Mancini takes swipe at critics before key cup game

LONDON (AP) -Roberto Mancini's pursuit of a trophy this season could be over by Sunday unless Manchester City can prevent Leeds from pulling off another upset in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The manager, though, mocked those critics who suggest his job could be on the line, saying: "All the people who talk about this don't understand football.''

City has already been dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League, while its Premier League title defense is in tatters with Manchester United surging 12 points ahead.

But Mancini says "if Manchester City should sack me, the other 20 teams in the Premier League should be without a manager.''

Beating Leeds will be no easy task, however, with the second-tier club knocking out Tottenham last month.