Mark Hughes was sacked on Saturday after failing to meet Manchester City's pre-season objectives.

What started out as a hunt for sixth spot turned into a demand to reach 70 points following a £120million summer investment.

Had City achieved Christmas victories against Stoke and Wolves, the Blues would be exactly on track at the halfway point of the campaign.

Yet such is the obvious ruthless manner in which the Blues' Abu Dhabi-based owners are pursuing their goals, that Hughes has swiftly been removed, with former Inter Milan boss Mancini taking over.

And Mancini has revealed his targets will be exactly the same as the ones Hughes was so strictly judged by.

"At this moment my target is the top four," he said. "Next season we want to win the Premier League."

Given the events of the past 72 hours, there must be some doubt as to how much time Mancini will be given if he looks like failing to reach those lofty goals.

There have been rumours a clause in his contract exists which would allow for a parting of the ways at the end of the season if a spot in next term's Champions League was not achieved.

The position was hardly clarified by Mancini's own statement that his contract lasts for "six months and three years" and no-one from City was able to shed any light on the situation.

Having remained admirably aloof from the bearpit atmosphere at a press conference which saw chief executive Garry Cook come under sustained attack, Mancini did outline a few areas of note.

Rather than command absolute authority on transfers, Mancini is happy to stick with the continental approach, where football administrator Brian Marwood will have an input, along with Cook and chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak.

"In Italy, it is not just the manager who decides on players, it is also director of football," he said.

"I will speak with Garry and Brian. Together we will decide who we need. It is no problem. The most important thing is for City to win, now and in the future."

After deliberately taking a year off following his curt dismissal by Inter Milan, who lined Jose Mourinho up as a replacement fully six months before the end came, Mancini made himself available for a new job in the summer.

However, he had also decided he wanted to try his hand at the Premier League, where he spent four weeks with Leicester in 2001 and became a pasta-eating pal of Robbie Savage.

Insisting he had no contact with anyone from City until a fortnight ago, and then only discussed taking over from Mark Hughes on Thursday, once Cook had decided to dispense with the Welshman, Mancini is now eager to get stuck in.

"Manchester City is a big club," he said.

"That is why I wanted to come. I want to be here for many years and win many trophies."

Clearly, Mancini will be a man under pressure.

How, for instance, will his bosses respond if no improvement is evident, or forbid the thought, results regress over the next couple of months.

The man who has a lifetime's experience in Serie A just smiled.

After four years with Inter Milan, during which time he won seven trophies and re-established the club as a genuine European force, nothing can faze him.

"I stayed at Inter for four years - which is a record in itself. I also won seven trophies when they had not won anything for 20 years," said Mancini.

"Then I got sacked. Pressure in this job is normal.

"I love Italian football but this is an important experience. I wanted it. Now I am here and I am very happy with this job."

He even managed to raise a smile - the only one of a feisty half hour - when he explained how he was going to improve his already half-decent English.

"I apologise for my English," he said. "It is not perfect but I intend to improve it by watching Coronation Street."