FA Cup defeat likely to be the end for Roberto Mancini

The Manchester City fans sang Roberto Mancini's name relentlessly at Wembley on Saturday. They also made their views clear about the board's wooing of Manuel Pellegrini. "You can stick your Pellegrini up your ----" was their considered verdict.

Yet this defeat in the FA Cup final surely signals the end for Mancini. Wigan were hungrier and more organised than Mancini's side.

As the rain tumbled on the Italian as he stood in the technical area, all around could hear the clock running down on his tenure less than a year after guiding City to the title. Furious fans sensed Pellegrini was lurking. Mancini knew it. City requested that ITV did not ask Mancini any questions about Pellegrini in their pre-match interview, but Wigan's deserved win has surely accelerated his arrival.

Echoes persist of City's pursuit of Mancini, when Mark Hughes went into a game against Sunderland knowing his days were numbered. Earlier this month, Txiki Begiristain, City's director of football, held a meeting in Madrid with Pellegrini's agent, Jesus Martinez, in Madrid. News leaked, City fans fulminated, but Mancini's days were numbered.

City's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, looked on here as his expensive team laboured, faded and lost. He had visited Mancini at the Grove hotel in Watford on Friday night, chatting to the manager and his players.

The board's concerns about the Italian are long-standing, revolving around shortcomings in Europe and his relationship with certain players, including his public criticism of the highly popular Joe Hart. The board would also like to see more youth players promoted.

There has also been surprise in the Etihad corridors of power over Mancini's stated frustration at the club not working harder to sign Robin van Persie, whose determination to join Manchester United killed City's hopes early on. There were raised eyebrows at the suggestion that Mancini did not want certain players like Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Apparently, he did.

Maicon's age and Javi Garcia's quality were both questioned internally, but City backed their manager's desire to recruit the pair. Neither has been much use. Neither featured at Wembley, although Garcia made the bench.

The first half alone made grim viewing for Khaldoon. Being held by a relegation-threatened, cheaply assembled side was not in the grand plan. Watching Gael Clichy being embarrassed by the lively, weaving Callum McManaman was not in the script.

City had moments in the first period. Carlos Tevez's shot hit Joel Robles and spiralled over and Samir Nasri, another criticised by Mancini, had a shot pushed away. But Nasri was lightweight, his minimal offerings contrasting with those of McManaman.

The sands of time slipped through Mancini's fingers. He has four years left on his contract, although the understanding is that there is a clause that stipulates he would depart with only one year's money, around pounds 7.5m. City would then need to facilitate the acquisition of Pellegrini's targets and Isco, his Malaga star, will surely grace many headlines over the next few weeks.

Pellegrini is used to spending money, having been at Real Madrid when they went on that extraordinary spree, bringing in Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema for around pounds 200m. Two have proved a success: Ronaldo and Alonso. But Pellegrini was unhappy with the balance of the squad, remarking: "It's no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don't have a pianist.''

His team out of tune, Pellegrini was soon out of work. The Chilean was dismissed and replaced by Jose Mourinho in 2010, yet his subsequent work at Malaga deserves respect.

The man with the degree in civil engineering built a good team. Only some late goals, and a touch of controversy, saw Isco and company knocked out of this season's Champions League by Borussia Dortmund.

His style involves a well-drilled back-four with two holding midfielders but his teams offer more width than Mancini's. Movement is key, hardly surprising for an individual who counts Rinus Michels as a major influence. He has experience of facing English teams, notably four draws against Manchester United with Villarreal, as well as a defeat to Arsenal.

For all Malaga's run in Europe, and Mancini's travails there, City fans are asking whether Pellegrini is much of an upgrade. His career is not covered with glittering prizes. Mancini has won prior FA Cups and the Premier League, but yesterdays defeat makes the board's actions easier. City fans, however, continued to demonstrate their love for the man who "comes from Italy".

Mancini emerged early for the second half, instructing James Milner to warm up and sitting briefly in the dugout alongside Brian Kidd, fiddling with his laces before standing up and moving across to the fans who were clamouring for autographs - he kept signing and signing until his players ran out.

They seemed more involved, improved from their first-half labours. As Mancini looked on, City pressed Arouna Kone into losing the ball and Tevez scampered down the right. Sergio Aguero was so close to turning his compatriot's cross in.

Mancini desperately needed his team to lift their tempo. He quickly sent on Milner for Nasri. The Frenchman looked distinctly unimpressed, walking past his manager without any flicker of recognition.

Milner gave City some more urgency. After 70 minutes, Mancini twisted again, removing Tevez for Jack Rodwell, a forward for a midfielder. It seemed a cautious move, although it allowed Yaya Toure to push on and for David Silva to play more freely. Still City struggled to break down Wigan.

They risked humiliation at times, such as when Shaun Maloney's free kick kissed the bar, and it duly arrived when Ben Watson scored, surely bringing to an end Mancini's time at City. He looked drained as he walked up to collect his runners-up medal. City's board demands better.