Roberto Mancini is convinced he will have a Champions League place and a trophy at the end of the season to prove he has changed Manchester City's fortunes for the better.

City head to Fulham on Sunday and a first encounter with Mark Hughes since the Welshman was dismissed in acrimonious circumstances by the Blues' cash-rich Abu Dhabi-based owners in December last year.

For Mancini it promises to be an ordeal, not least because the statistics surrounding his own tenure are open to criticism.

The Italian has gleaned exactly the same number of points from the first 13 games of this campaign that Hughes managed in the last, and the Blues have also lost three times, compared to only once at this point 12 months ago.

In fairness to Mancini, there is a significant difference in that the Blues have established themselves in the top four, something they failed to do under Hughes.

Yet, for the money that has been spent reinforcing Mancini's squad, it is not that impressive.

What would make people sit up is if the Blues were able to end a trophy drought that will have lasted for 35 years by the time they next get an opportunity to win one, and that goes alongside a place in the Champions League next season.

Mancini is confident both targets will be achieved.

"We are in fourth position, three points behind United but we must check at the end of the season," said Mancini.

"At the end of the season I think we will get into the Champions League and probably we will win something. This is my opinion because I believe we have improved a lot."

Others may argue otherwise. Certainly Hughes felt his side would have achieved their objectives if they had been given a chance last term.

Owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak had other ideas, which means Hughes will be fully motivated this weekend, even if Mancini is eager the contest should not become a personal battle.

"I don't know if Mark Hughes has a point to prove but Sunday is Fulham against Manchester City, not Mancini against Hughes," he said.

"Maybe it means more, I don't know. But I am sure they always try to win, whether they play against Manchester City or Newcastle, who they played last Saturday."

Mancini also has to combat claims of negativity, which contrasts sharply with the generally attractive football they produced under Hughes.

Arguments are still raging over the former Inter Milan coach's decision to replace Carlos Tevez with Gareth Barry last weekend, which Mancini insists was not a conservative mood.

How he could do with Mario Balotelli this weekend. However, the controversial Italy international misses out through suspension as he serves the final game of a three-match ban collected at West Brom earlier this month.

The 20-year-old is rarely out of the headlines, and has this week been linked with AC Milan and then racially abused during his country's friendly with Romania.

Mancini would prefer him to be spoken about purely because of his football, having scored three times in four appearances for the Blues in addition to that red card.

"He must change his mentality," said Mancini.

"He must think about playing because if he plays here he can score every game.

"He can't afford to talk with the referee. He needs to think about his job because he can make a difference on the pitch."

Mancini has doubts over England duo Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards but he reported good news over goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was forced to miss the friendly defeat to France after suffering a back spasm in training on Tuesday.

"Joe is getting better," said Mancini. "I think he will be available for Sunday."