Roberto Mancini backs 'good men' of Manchester City

 

Roberto Mancini

 

Roberto Mancini insists that his squad of ‘good men’ will bring sustained success to Manchester City.

Mancini’s patience has been sorely tested by the controversy surrounding Carlos Tevez over the last couple of weeks.

The manager has not been allowed to comment publicly on Tevez during the club’s internal investigations into the striker’s alleged behaviour.

But Mancini is convinced that his squad has the talent and mental strength to ensure it does not become a distraction.

City’s thumping 4-0 win at Blackburn before the international break kept them level on points with neighbours United at the top of the Premier League.

Mancini wants the Blues to maintain their great league start when unbeaten Aston Villa ­– and Shay Given – come to the Etihad Stadium next Saturday.

And he is convinced that, whatever City’s fate in the league this season, he has the players to keep the trophies coming after last season’s FA Cup triumph.

”When you build a new team, it is important to have good players, and also to have good men," the manager said.

"With these good men, you can build a strong team for the future.

“This is very important. And when you have good men, you can still lose sometimes, but in the end you will reach your target. I have them here. I am sure of this.”

Manchester City target Neymar urged to hit the big time by Ronaldo

 

HOT PROPERTY: Neymar

 

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo has advised rumoured Manchester City target Neymar to try his luck in Europe.

The 19-year-old was linked with a move to City in the summer along with Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid Barcelona - but has repeatedly stated his commitment to his current club Santos.

However, with Blues striker Carlos Tevez' future uncertain, City might feel they need re-inforcements in January.

Ronaldo, who played for both Madrid and Barca, as well as AC Milan and Inter Milan in a glittering career, is adamant, however, that Neymar needs to leave for Europe to fulfil his vast potential.

"Leaving aside selflessness and patriotism, Neymar has to look at the things which will help him conquer the world," Ronaldo told ESPN.

"If he can play in Europe the way he does in Brazil, very soon he would be the best player in the world."

Ronaldo made a similar journey as a 17-year-old in 1994, swapping Cruzeiro for PSV Eindhoven, and very quickly developed into the most feared striker on the planet.

If consulted, the 35-year-old, who retired in February, would be clear in his advice.

"I cannot decide for him," he added. "But it is clear that if Neymar came to me for advice I would say the best thing is to go to Europe and choose the best team for him.

"I hope Neymar is intelligent and is not just limited to Brazil."

Andy Mitten: Manchester derby is the match the football world is waiting for

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Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson

 

Barca v Real Madrid, Milan v Inter or United against Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool have been the games which appealed to a global audience.

But the Manchester derby is ascendant and the eyes of the football world will turn on the city for the first league derby of the season on October 23.

FourFourTwo magazine have United and City on the cover for the first time. The magazine has spoken to several players from both clubs for their new edition, which comes out tomorrow, and all are aware of the importance of the derby.

“All derbies are a difficult proposition, because it is a battle for the city,” said Sergio Aguero. “If you win, you win the city. Almost as soon as you are out of the ground, on the streets, you see a United fan and they remind you.

“It is a game the fans feel more than any other, and you must win so they can go out in the streets without being taunted. You cannot win all the time, of course, but losing is difficult.

“It is the same in Argentina, where I played in the derbies between Independiente and Racing. That’s a spicy one. It is the same here, but the fans behave differently.”

Aguero was on the winning side in all three Avellaneda derbies in Buenos Aires.

“I played Racing three times and won three times,” he said. “Hopefully here it will be the same! The best goal I ever scored was against Racing – and because it was in a derby, of course it meant more. If I could score a goal like that against United it would be beautiful.”

Asked whether finishing above United will win a league title, City manager Roberto Mancini said: “I think so, for sure! United began winning many years ago and they have a winning mentality so it is not easy to match them and be on their level so quickly. They’re one of the best teams in the world, but we have a good team as well.”

Several of the United and City players know each other well.

“I know Micah [Richards] best from England’s under-21s and I’ve been with England alongside Lescott, Johnson, Barry and Joe Hart,” said Tom Cleverley.

“There’s a lot of United and City players with England and the Community Shield got brought up. They were saying that we didn’t batter them, whereas we explained quite clearly that we did. It was a great game, really exciting, and I’m sure it will be the same again when we play them in the league.”

Asked if it’s a good thing for the City and United that your closest rivals are now your nearest neighbours, Cleverley added: “It’s good for Manchester and the Manchester derby, which was one-sided for a long time. City have made good signings and they’re playing well. There will be a bigger than normal build-up around the derby. City are rivals, but you can’t count Chelsea out either.”

United captain Nemanja Vidic added: “It is maybe going to be one of the most important games for us in the next few years. There is more pressure when you play against them now. Derbies are about the fans: it is them who have to go into work tomorrow and see the other fans, and it is them who get texts straight after the game, with a joke about United players or City players.”

And new signing Ashley Young is already realising what the derby is all about.

Within a few weeks of being around the city I got to feel the rivalry,” he said. “You get to feel it around the training ground, from the staff and the players too. City have started really well this season and, I’m looking forward to playing them. Having been involved in Villa v Blues, I know they are fiery games.”

Asked if United have a point to prove because City have spent millions, Young added: “I think they’re the ones who have a point to prove. We are the champions, we won the Community Shield, we have the history.

“It’s them who want to get one over on us but the red side of Manchester is still the biggest! The Manchester clubs have started on fire, which is why the spotlight is on us,  but it’s too early to be speaking about titles.”

Owen Hargreaves is set to make Premier League bow with Manchester City

 

Owen Hargreaves in action during the Carling Cup

 

Owen Hargreaves is ready to give City a Premier League boost when they take on Aston Villa next week.

The midfielder is expected to be included in Roberto Mancini’s squad for the Etihad Stadium clash, the first time he will have been involved for a league fixture.

The Blues organised a behind-closed-doors match for Hargreaves last month, and he played the full 90 minutes. And he marked his City debut with a stunning goal in the Carling Cup win over Birmingham.

During the international break, City plan to put on two more private games to help Hargreaves, who has not played a full competitive match for more than three years, get up to match fitness.

Hargreaves’ progress is being carefully monitored by England boss Fabio Capello with an eye to playing him in Euro 2012 if they qualify with a point in
Montenegro on Friday night.

City tactical coach David Platt said the 30-year-old is progressing very well.

“He’s in good shape,” said Platt. “When the boys get back from the international break, Owen should be there or thereabouts with his own full pre-season under him.”

The Blues’ injury problems in midfield are easing with Nigel de Jong expected to be fully fit after joining up with Holland, while James Milner is over his rib injury.

Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez was tight-lipped as he arrived in Buenos Aires for a break after being quizzed by City officials over his alleged refusal to play against Bayern Munich.

The Argentinian striker was spotted boarding an Air France flight to Paris on Monday night, hours after he was interviewed by the Blues.

A source close to the player claimed he was heading for a holiday in Europe, but that was a smokescreen as Tevez met his family in Paris and caught a connecting flight to Argentina.

The trip to Buenos Aires does not contravene the two-week suspension which the club imposed on him and Tevez has apparently given assurances that he will return to Manchester by October 13.

Azzurri attack: Manchester City star Mario Balotelli in Italy thoughts

 

IMPRESSIVE FORM: Mario Balotelli

 

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's impressive form for the Blues could have won him a starting spot for Italy against Serbia on Friday.

Italy have already secured their place in next year's European Championship finals but coach Cesare Prandelli is demanding no let-up from his side heading into their final two qualifying matches.

The Azzurri are guaranteed to finish top of Group C as they boast an eight-point lead over nearest challengers Serbia, who they face in their penultimate qualifier in Belgrade on Friday before then completing their campaign four days later against Northern Ireland in Pescara.

"I haven't thought of the line-up yet," Prandelli said. "In the next couple of days we will test a few things and the partnership of Balotelli and (AC Milan forward Antonio) Cassano could be a possibility."

Man City's Carlos Tevez should be banned if he refused to play - Fifa boss

 

Boyce took the role of vice-president in June after the departure of Jack Warner 

 

Carlos Tevez should be banned from football if it is proven that the Manchester City striker refused to play against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, says Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce.

"I think what happened was despicable," said Boyce, a former president of the Irish Football Association.
"I believe Fifa should have the power to ban the player from taking an active part in football."
City have suspended the Argentine for two weeks pending an investigation.
City boss Roberto Mancini said he felt Tevez could never play for the club again after claiming the Argentine had refused to come on as a substitute in the Champions League group match.
But the player, who has been unhappy with his lack of playing time in recent weeks, feels his row with Mancini was about warming up and not a refusal to play.

Boyce, who was speaking in a personal capacity, told Sky Sports: "If he has done what has been said, then I think his club would be better off without him."
"If Manchester City prove it, write to Fifa and state the exact circumstances that happened, I would have no problem with that whatsoever.
"If this player did what he has been accused of doing, then if Manchester City were to release him I don't think it would be right if he could go and earn a considerable amount of money somewhere else next week.
"I would have no problems if some sanctions were imposed by Fifa in that respect.
"People within the clubs and within the top level of Fifa have to consider that if Carlos Tevez does it, who's to stop someone else doing it the next week or the week after?"

Blackburn 0 - 4 Man City

Steve Kean's side suffered their worst home defeat in three years

Manchester City put the Carlos Tevez saga behind them with a classy victory at Blackburn that keeps them level on points with leaders Manchester United.

City lost Sergio Aguero to a groin injury in a forgettable first half but they found top form in the second.
Mario Balotelli hit a post before Adam Johnson struck with a magnificent curling effort into the top corner.
Balotelli volleyed home, Samir Nasri hit a deflected third and Stefan Savic headed in to confirm Blackburn's woe.
Rovers are now second-bottom of the Premier League table with four points from seven games and a goal difference of -9.

DID YOU KNOW...

Manchester City have taken 25 of a possible 27 points in their last nine Premier League matches.

A number of their fans staged a sit-in protest at full-time to demand the dismissal of manager Steve Kean, who will meet with the club's owners when he takes his squad to India next week.
Life looks considerably brighter for City, who join United on 19 points with a goal difference only one inferior to their rivals' 19.
Their preparations were overshadowed by the fall-out from Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Tevez was suspended for allegedly refusing to come on as a substitute while Edin Dzeko apologised to boss Roberto Mancini after reacting angrily to being replaced.
Before the trip to Ewood Park, Mancini stated "I'm the manager, I'm in control" and he made six changes to his starting line-up - with Dzeko among those making way.

City carried little threat in the early stages and when they did work an opportunity on 10 minutes, Dzeko's replacement Balotelli shot wastefully over the bar

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The home fans called for Kean's dismissal and staged a sit-in protest

Apart from a perfectly-timed James Milner tackle that denied Blackburn striker Yakubu, City dominated possession but created little in the way of meaningful chances.
And their cause was not helped when Sergio Aguero limped off with a groin injury.
However, City responded positively as Balotelli curled narrowly wide and turned Pablo Zabaleta's low cross into the side-netting.
Blackburn offered nothing going forward in the opening period and that continued after the break, encouraging City to flood forward.
The visitors began to hold a much higher line, passing and moving with greater urgency, and their reward was forthcoming.
A David Silva shot was deflected just wide and Balotelli struck the woodwork before Johnson fired into the top corner after Blackburn failed to clear a corner.
Mancini's men were suddenly buzzing and three minutes later they doubled their lead, Balotelli getting in front of Scott Dann to volley Nasri's cross past Paul Robinson.

 

Man City back to winning ways - David Platt

Nasri then got in on the act, rounding off a counter-attack with a drilled finish that deflected off Jason Lowe.
Blackburn came close to pulling one back - Morten Gamst Pedersen almost scored direct from a corner and Yakubu shot wide.
But an unmarked Savic nodded his first goal for City to complete the rout and the final whistle brought boos from the home crowd.