MANCINI'S DEFINING MOMENT AT MAN CITY TONIGHT

NO ONE is denying that Roberto Mancini has done a fine job at Man City since taking over from Mark Hughes. 

The Italian has won the league and the FA Cup and is on course for another title tilt this season.

But in the long-term that will not be enough to keep him in the hot seat at the Etihad.

The simple truth is this: Mancini needs to win the Champions League. Not just to secure his employment with City but to shoo away the doubters (including myself I might add) who feel he is a top-class manager but NOT a world-class one like Mourinho and Guardiola.

Mancini cannot seem to crack it in the Champions League. It cost him his job at Inter Milan when he was sacked for failing in Europe - despite THREE consecutive Serie A titles.

Now history appears to be repeating itself at City. Last year they exited the Champions League at the group stage - which was a disaster.

And this term they are in a very vulnerable position as they prepare to take on Dortmund at home tonight.

It is a game that I can tell you now that Mourinho would win if he were in charge at City - and with the same players at his disposal as Mancini has tonight.

Trying to analyse why Roberto could fail tonight, the thought keeps reappearing in my head that maybe he tries too hard when it comes to the Champions League. That he wants everyone on the Continent to know he is a tactical genius, who changes his personnel for this competition. How otherwise to explain the inexplicable...in the loss at Madrid he played Maicon instead of Zabaleta, the raw teenager Nastasic instead of Lescott and the overrated Javier Garcia instead of Milner.

Why gamble so much for such a big match? It just didn't make sense.

Tonight is arguably Mancini's defining moment at City - lose and they are probably out of the Champions League running for another season. Defeat would intensify the pressure and the likelihood that Mourinho will once again take over from him as he did at the San Siro.

Mancini needs to get it right - and the best way to do that is for him to rely on the likes of Lescott and Zabaleta and not dabble with Maicon or Nastasic. Go steady, Roberto - go with the experienced hands who won you the Prem and you will win...there's no need to gamble to try to look clever.

FRANK WORRALL