Roberto Mancini has kept show on the road

Manchester City fans remember York City away. Many of those worshippers flocking nervously, excitedly, hopefully to the Etihad today (Sunday) remember December 19, 1998, recall losing at Bootham Crescent, slipping to 12th in Division Two, closer to non-League than Premier League. So if the darkness and derision end this afternoon, and City are crowned champions of England, they will say grazie to Roberto Mancini because they remember York City away.

It has been a long journey into the limelight but Mancini has proved the beacon to guide City fans in recent times. City have 118 official supporters' clubs, stretching from Audenshaw to Redondo Beach Blues in Los Angeles, Piccadilly to Phuket, Swinton to the Cactus Bar in Malta and today should be their day because of the manager who "came from Italy to manage Man City".

Dreams can come true. Demons can be exorcised. Even if what older fans lugubriously label "typical City" reassert themselves, snatching humiliation and second place from the jaws of glory, making Devon Loch look like Red Rum, then they must keep calm and carry on under Mancini. He has the club on an upward trajectory. He is the man with the plan, the embodiment of the strategy sought by Abu Dhabi.

A year ago, City were celebrating qualification for the Champions League. Now they are reaching out for the Premier League.

Building-blocks are in place on and off the pitch. Something special is being constructed, foundations laid for a craved dynasty, for the antithesis of "typical City". The new Etihad edifice needs to be strong because Manchester United will fight back, Arsenal reinforce shrewdly, Chelsea will return with new players and a vengeance while Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are a growing force.

Next season's concerns can wait. Untold joy should unfold today. Beat QPR and the title is City's, barring a mathematical freak-show by Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Sunderland. Mancini has brought hope and a degree of certainty to the doubt-riddled world of "typical City". He understands the fans' hunger and fears but is not weighed down by the emotional trauma they have suffered.

And they have suffered. Those who enjoyed City in their pomp, the '68-76 vintage, are now in their 50s, possibly late 40s if early developers on the match-going front. The majority of City's support have known nothing but masochism, nothing but York away, nothing but living in the shadow of Old Trafford. They could be forgiven for nipping down to Mario Balotelli's tailor for some T-shirts bemoaning: "Why always us?''

Even if Mancini, the fan-whisperer, manages to banish the memory of York away, those who march in blue shirts will never forget their past. Such experiences as Dec 19, 1998, bind bands of brothers even closer together. Those who were there on the away end at Bootham Crescent will look at each other today and cherish the good times even more. Tears will mingle with disbelief.

City fans derive pride and pain in equal measure from their history. Some supporters spent last week rummaging through the attics for old battle-flags, ringing round, looking for banners, some waved most recently in the derby match: "Loud, Proud & Loyal" and others extolling the virtues of Neil Young, Northern Soul, Boddingtons and Vimto.

There is a respect for City's fans because of all the years of waiting, all the barren seasons when the bridesmaid risked becoming a spinster. One Leeds United fan posted a "best of luck" message on the Bluemoon website that struck a chord. "You guys have been through a lot over the years and you deserve what's happening at present,'' it read. "As a Leeds supporter I can relate to what you've been through in the past. Savour these moments because they will live with you forever. You've played some brilliant football this season and have a fantastic squad of players and a brilliant team spirit... it's time to make history!'' Winning the league would be an antidote to "typical City" history.

Edging the marathon race involves the elimination of the type of mistakes that have characterised City since the Mike Summerbee era, the lack of concentration at key moments, the lack of investment, the lack of consistency and, ultimately, the lack of quality in the squad.

Not now. Any team of the season must include Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. City have spent heavily but their prominence this season has partly been built on the bedrock provided by Hart, who cost pounds 600,000 from Shrewsbury Town, and Kompany, the pounds 6?million man from Hamburg. They arrived pre-Mancini but the Italian's use of both has proved inspired. His decision in August 2010 to trust in Hart, backing the young keeper ahead of the experienced Shay Given, was a masterstroke.

Appointing Kompany captain has proved similarly successful, bringing leadership to the defence and a wise mind to the dressing-room debating society. It also transmitted a message: City's image was now shaped by Kompany the company man, a hard-working, community-minded, determined Belgian, an ambassador in boots. Nothing flash. All substance.

Across town, Ferguson talked of the "enormous" pressure on City but Mancini has deflected that. Always the most sure-footed of strikers, Mancini has been similarly adept in dealing with the slings and arrows of the final week, diplomatically defusing potential rows with his predecessor Mark Hughes and Ferguson. Always a forward who timed his run well, Mancini has kept his eyes on the goal, the goal of ending 44 years of misery in the league.

Amid all the plaudits deservedly heading Mancini's way it needs pointing out that City have been good for the Italian, allowing him to rebuild his career after a disappointing end to his Inter Milan days.

When the forensics are called in to examine this season, certain moments may occupy their scrutiny most. If United do surrender their title, some will put the verdict down to death by misadventure. The time of the accident will be placed at midafternoon on April 22, or more precisely between the 83rd and 85th minutes at Old Trafford.

United's failure to deal with Marouane Fellaini allowed Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar to claim a point for Everton. So damaging.

The forensics will then turn their attention to City, and the little grey cells belonging to their greying manager. Like Bobby Fischer plotting a checkmate, "Bobby" Mancini played the key tactical move of the Premier League season. His signature move. Twice he shifted Toure forward in games, first to scare United at the Etihad on April 30 and secondly to storm through Newcastle United's defence on May 6.

Other events helped define the season. For United it was the loss through injury of Nemanja Vidic, Ferguson's inexplicable decision to omit Antonio Valencia at the Etihad and United's problems at full-backs and, enduringly, in central midfield.

For City, Balotelli's suspension proved a blessing in bib-wrestling disguise, allowing the Aguero-Carlos Tevez axis to emerge. Hart's safe hands, Kompany's responsibility-taking, Joleon Lescott's determination and Gareth Barry's industry all played their part.

But Mancini was the man who pulled it altogether, who kept the show on the road, who has allowed City fans to believe.