Manchester City's Spanish double act Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain are convinced Roberto Mancini has lost the dressing room.

The Daily Mail says it was not just City's relatively disappointing league season that left chief executive Soriano and sporting director Begiristain convinced they needed a change.

The pair - who weren't at the club when Mancini led City to Premier League glory a year ago - have been alarmed by Mancini's deteriorating relationship with players and staff at all levels.

He has spent much of this campaign arguing privately and publicly with Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri. Mancini was even photographed grappling with Mario Balotelli on the training ground in the weeks before the striker was sold to AC Milan.

The City coach has also argued behind the scenes with executive staff. His habit of complaining in press conferences that the board let him down on transfers last summer has also ruffled feathers.