The Italian saw his side progress thanks to a 2-0 victory against Timisoara at Eastlands tonight, going through 3-0 on aggregate.

Goals from Shaun-Wright Phillips and Dedryck Boyata, his first for the club, secured a comfortable win over the Romanians.

Mancini said: "It is an important trophy. I think the Europa League is difficult because you play more games.

"But if we can change some players every game, I think we can arrive at the end and play in the final. It is not like the Champions League, sure, but it is important.

"It was vital we played a good game tonight and and now we are in the group stages."

Wright-Phillips made the breakthrough after a glorious through ball from Patrick Vieira and that settled City down.

Boyata, 20, then had his moment to savour - a thumping header at the far post following a free-kick from David Silva.

It was the Belgian defender's first senior outing since February and Mancini was pleased with his display.

He said: "Boyata did very well. I am happy because he scored a goal, his first goal, and that is important.

"He played often in pre-season. In the last three games he didn't play, but he is always ready. This is important because when one player is ready every time you call him to play, it is very good."

Mancini made seven changes to the side that defeated Liverpool on Monday and saw the stand-ins show their mettle.

He said: "We had a good focus on the match because this game is difficult if you think it is going to be easy.

"You start the game slowly and you can have a problem. But we started the game very well, had a good focus.

"It was difficult because they had 10 players behind the ball and sometimes we couldn't find any space. But I think it was a good game."

He added: "I think we spent our money very well because we bought good players who can play in different positions. We can change without a problem.

"At the moment we have four injured players, but I think that we must improve and work because we have played only four games and the season is very long."