Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has attempted to ease pressure on manager Roberto Mancini as the club reach the business end of the campaign.

The North-West outfit, who won the Premier League title in dramatic fashion last season, are unlikely to match their efforts due to their 15-point trail behind Manchester United in the table.

Throughout the season there have been questions over Mancini's position at the club, with some reports claiming that City are ready to call time on the Italian's tenure at the Etihad Stadium.

"It is not easy to win back any league, especially the Premier League," the Manchester Evening News quotes Soriano as saying.

"One year you can win with luck, but in the long term you need planning and investments to reach the final of the Champions League."

Mancini signed a new long-term contract at City last summer.