Former England international Alan Shearer feels that the speculation surrounding the future of manager Roberto Mancini cost Manchester City the FA Cup.

Reports circulated on the morning of their final against Wigan Athletic that the Italian would be sacked at the end of the season and replaced by Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Shearer wrote in his column in The Sun: "I couldn't help but feel for Roberto Mancini on Saturday.Hung out to dry as the dark clouds began to gather over Wembley.

"Overnight reports that Manuel Pellegrini was going to replace him had cast a shadow over Manchester City's FA Cup buildup.

"If Pellegrini was not being lined up, City needed to come out with a strong, bold statement in support of their manager. The fact that they did not seemed to say it all. Mancini's team responded like one playing for a lame duck manager."

City have endured a season without silverware after missing out on the FA Cup along with conceding the Premier League title to rivals Manchester United.