Touré urges City to keep faith with 'experienced' Mancini

Mancini took over after Mark Hughes (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City defender Kolo Touré has called for the club to stick with manager Roberto Mancini ahead of tonight's match at home to Wigan. There has been speculation about the Italian's future in recent weeks, which intensified after City's hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League were dented by a 2-0 home defeat against Everton in midweek.

That match also saw Mancini charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after a touchline fracas with Everton's David Moyes.

City's next three games are against Wigan, Burnley and Birmingham but they will also have to face Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa before the end of the season. But former Arsenal centre-half Touré wants Mancini to be given plenty of time at Eastlands, even if the club do not secure Champions League football.

He said: "It's really difficult to beat us and what he [Mancini] brings is that every time we play, we feel really strong. He's bringing experience and he knows what he wants to do for this club and he needs time.

"You can't keep changing managers. Every time the players have to adapt to a new strategy and the thinking of the new manager, which is really difficult and takes time. With Roberto we're starting to know what he really wants and he's working well."