Manchester City are prepared to give Pep Guardiola a blank cheque as he sets about transforming them into a world-class side, "?Mirror Sport report.
At the beginning of the season, the Sky Blues were being widely tipped to reclaim the Premier League title after splashing £150m on new signings.
However, despite reaching the Champions League semi-final and lifting the Capital One Cup, Manuel Pellegrini's men endured a disastrous campaign after they were blown away by Leicester City in the title race.
Speaking about the club's season, a City insider said "To finish so far behind Leicester, having made such a huge investment in the squad, was unacceptable.
"We made great strides in Europe and also won a trophy, but the belief was that, if we didn't win the title, then we would certainly go closer than the previous season.
"Fifteen points is a huge gap - and, for that, the manager has to accept full responsibility given the quality of the squad at his disposal."
3 "? Manchester City have been outside the top four for just three days all season. Lofty.
Guardiola will take over the Etihad managerial reins in the next few weeks and he will be tasked with overhauling the squad and restoring them to the summit of English football.
It was revealed back in February that the Spaniard would join and Pellegrini blamed the announcement on a decline in form.
The insider fired back by saying "Manuel has been able to use the confirmation that Pep Guardiola was coming to the club as an excuse.
"What he conveniently chose to ignore was that the team didn't just underperform for the last four months of the season. It was going on for 18 months."
Guardiola faces crucial decisions over the futures of several current City stars including Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony and Elaqium Mangala but he will be given a warchest to lure the world's best players.