Even the alarm on his wristwatch was beeping loudly as if to stress the point that time was running out to sign France forward Samir Nasri from Arsenal before Monday's home opener against Swansea City.
Mancini has made no secret of his desire to sign Nasri, breaking an unwritten rule last month of not naming transfer targets, and while he did not mention him by name at Friday's news conference, the questions he faced were all about him.
"We have not completed our team and I hope that we can do this very very quickly because we need other players," the Italian said.
"I think that the club is still working on this [Nasri deal], it is not easy... it is important we can complete our team very quickly in the next days and next week because the first games are very important.
"I think that if we complete our squad... I think we can fight for the title this year."
"When we have a target for two or three months, it is important that this player can arrive," he said. "It was important to have this player in July, when we worked with the team, now maybe it will be difficult because we need time."
"I think that we should wait these two weeks until the end of the month [when the transfer window closes], it is difficult that he can leave... because at the moment Carlos is here and there isn't a team that wants to take him," Mancini said.
"I am happy if he stays."
The path had seemingly been paved for Tevez's departure with the club signing Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, seen as a natural replacement for his compatriot.
"I think it is important that we were in the match always, we were 2-0. It is important for us that we understand why we lost th
