Posts Tagged ‘Manchester City’

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed that he is ready to sell star striker Mario Balotelli in the summer.

The City striker again found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after his red card at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Balotelli escaped a red card after 10 minutes for a knee-high tackle on Bacary Sagna, but was dismissed in stoppage time after receiving a second booking by referee Martin Atkinson for another lunge on the same player, and could now face a lengthy ban.

But Mancini looks to have had enough of the troubled player and admitted after the game that he would not play for the club again this season.

Asked for how long he could put up with Balotelli’s antics, Mancini said: “I am finished. We have six games and he will not play in the next six games.”

“I am finished. We have six games and he will not play in the next six games.”Roberto Mancini on Mario Balotelli Quotes of the week

Pushed further on whether he would try to sell Balotelli at the end of the season, Mancini replied: “Probably – but I don’t know. It depends, because Balotelli is a fantastic player.

“I can continue to play with Mario on the pitch. Every time, we risk one sent off, like today.

“But he can score also in the last minute.”

Bad tackle

Balotelli has been no stranger to controversy since joining the club in 2010.

And Mancini said of the first-half tackle on Sagna: “From the bench I didn’t see the first tackle but it was a bad tackle.”

When asked if the authorities should take a look retrospectively, he said: “I hope (so),” and admitted the striker deserved a lengthy ban.

“I defend him always because Mario is a good guy, but if he doesn’t change in the future he can lose all his talent.

“If he doesn’t understand this, after two years I can’t do anything. I hope for him that he can improve, that he can understand that he can’t continue like this, for his future, for his talent. I’m very sorry for him for this.”

Shaun Derry: QPR captain was sent off after a foul on Manchester United winger Ashley Young

Sir Alex Ferguson felt referee Lee Mason had no option but to send Shaun Derry off during Manchester United’s win over Queens Park Rangers, but acknowledged Ashley Young was in an offside position.

United recorded an eighth successive Premier League victory to tighten their grip at the top of the table after goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes secured a 2-0 triumph over QPR.

However, the key moment in the game arrived on 14 minutes when Derry was sent off for a foul on Young in the box after the United winger was in an offside position from Rooney’s pass.

The assistant referee’s failure to spot Young being offside followed on from two decisions which went against QPR’s relegation rivals Wigan Athletic at Chelsea on Saturday.

Ferguson told Sky Sports: “I thought Ashley was offside, but there’s been a lot of that in the last few weeks, a lot of decisions like this.

“The boy Derry just had a little tug and it was enough to unbalance Ashley and, obviously, being the last defender the referee was left with no option.”

Scholes praise

The win opened up an eight-point advantage over Manchester City ahead of their game at Arsenal later on Sunday and Ferguson was pleased to cross off another game.

He added: “The only think I can take out of today was we won our game, there are only six games left now and we are a goal better off than City.

“That’s the only way I can look at it to be honest with you.”

The Red Devils have now won 11 out of 12 league games since Scholes came out of retirement in January and Ferguson praised the 37-year-old midfielder’s contribution.

“We’ve only dropped two points since he’s come back into the fold and today was a typical Paul Scholes goal,” continued the United manager.

“He has scored three now since he’s come back and you can see the control of the game, and the control of the tempo of the game, has never changed. He’s a great, great player.”

Mark Hughes: Remains confident that QPR will earn enough points to survive, despite an imposing fixture list

QPR boss Mark Hughes believes it will be difficult for his side to reach the magical 40-point mark that should ensure Premier League survival but is still confident they can stay up.

The Loftus Road outfit currently have 28 points from their 31 games so far and climbed out of the relegation zone last week with an impressive 2-1 win over Arsenal.

That victory over the Gunners was their second home win in succession following their come-from-behind 3-2 win against Liverpool in March, raising hopes of a successful battle against the drop.

However, only goal difference separates them from 18th-placed Blackburn and 19th-placed Wigan in what is a congested bottom six.

Their run-in is also arguably the toughest among the relegation strugglers with Sunday’s trip to Manchester United preceding games against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Hughes concedes that it will be difficult for his side to reach 40 points – the total often deemed good enough to ensure survival – but still feels they can get enough points from their remaining games to stay up.

“It is difficult to say what it will be, but I think the lowest point total has been something like 34,” he said.

Mid-mark

“I don’t think it will be as low as that but it won’t be as high as 40. I think it will be the mid-mark of those two points.

“We would like to think we can get to 40 still. There is still a possibility of doing that as there is enough points on offer.

“But we’re realistic in terms of the opposition that we’re going up against that it may be difficult to do that but we will give it our best shot.”

Roberto Mancini: Looking for a win at Arsenal to keep City’s title hopes alive

Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City can still win the title as they prepare for Sunday’s tough trip to Arsenal.

City go into the game with the Gunners five points behind rivals Manchester United with seven games to play.

But with a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium still to come later this month, City only need United to drop points in one game to regain control of their title destiny – providing they win games themselves.

While Mancini conceded this week that defeat at Arsenal, coupled with a United victory over QPR, would effectively condemn City to the runners-up spot, it is not a thought he is entertaining.

He said: “We can’t think this now. We should think we can win the title – seven games to the end, with one derby to play at home. I think we can win this title.

“Last year we did 71 points – now we are at 71 with seven games left.

Do maximum

“I think we should do the maximum we can do in seven games and then after we will see.”

Arsenal were beaten at relegation-threatened QPR last time after winning their previous seven league games.

“We should think we can win the title – seven games to the end, with one derby to play at home. I think we can win this title.”Roberto Mancini Quotes of the week

Mancini sees the Gunners’ defeat to the Hoops as a mere blip and believes City, who drew with Sunderland last time, will need to be at their best to win and keep the pressure on United.

He added: “It was a surprise for me, I didn’t think this – Arsenal played the last seven games and they won all that they played. QPR probably did a good game.

“Sunday for us will be a difficult game, playing against a top squad like Arsenal.

“But we should play our game, we should play well, not like against Sunderland. If we play better we can do well.”

Robin van Persie: Has netted 33 times in all competitions this season

Arsene Wenger believes Robin van Persie deserves to be named Player of the Year after proving what he is capable of when free of niggling knocks.

The Dutch striker has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Emirates Stadium, preventing him from making the impact both he and his club had hoped for.

He has, however, enjoyed an injury-free campaign in 2011/12 and has led from the front by netting 33 goals in all competitions.

His efforts have forced Arsenal back into top-four contention in the Premier League and Wenger feels Van Persie is the standout candidate to be named the top flight’s top performer.

“His focus has always been great,” the Frenchman said of his skipper.

“But this is the first year he has been consistently on the field, and that explains why he deserves to be Player of the Year.”

Future

Van Persie’s exploits this season have seen him earn plenty of plaudits, while drawing admiring glances from afar.

He still has a year left to run on his Gunners contract, but that has done little to curb speculation regarding his future.

Manchester City are among those reported to be weighing up a big-money approach this summer, but Wenger is refusing to be drawn into another transfer debate regarding one of his brightest stars.

“Van Persie’s not at the end of his contract despite what people might think,” he said.

“He has one year to go and I don’t think it’s the best subject before this weekend’s game (against City).”

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal manager has pinpointed Manchester United’s experience as key in the title race

Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United’s ability to handle ‘money time’ has given the reigning champions the edge over Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

United have won 10 of their last 11 games to open up a five-point lead over City after their local rivals surrendered top spot following a stuttering run of form.

The advantage could be increased to eight points by the time City take on Arsenal on Sunday afternoon and Wenger believes United are now in a comfortable position.

The Arsenal manager pinpoints the Red Devils’ experience as a key factor in this season’s battle for the title, which was evident in Monday’s 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Security

“Manchester United are surprisingly in a comfortable position, no one expected them to be because they did not look absolutely irresistible this year,” said Wenger.

“You could see that again on Monday night against Blackburn, but they managed to win the game.

“If Manchester United make it to the title, it is really down to experience.

“At Blackburn when [Ryan] Giggs came on in the last 15 minutes you thought ‘they can only win it now’ because they know how to deal with the money time, that means the last 15 minutes in football when it is 0-0.”Arsene Wenger Quotes of the week

“At Blackburn when [Ryan] Giggs came on in the last 15 minutes you thought ‘they can only win it now’ because they know how to deal with the money time, that means the last 15 minutes in football when it is 0-0.

“They don’t make a mistake, they have that security at the back. United have won so many titles because they are not nervous.”

City boss Roberto Mancini feels that, should his side lose to the Gunners, it would be almost impossible to overhaul such a deficit in the remaining six games, but Wenger does not believe things can be put so simply.

He added: “They still play Man Utd at home so it’s far from over. The fight is open.

“Manchester United at the moment has a little advantage, but we will see. It is very difficult to predict what will happen.”

Edinson Cavani: Feels Napoli are an improving side

Edinson Cavani has hinted that he could stay at Napoli despite interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 25-year-old has netted 24 times in all competitions for Napoli this season, attracting interest from around Europe.

Three goals in two games against City in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season brought him to the attention of the English club, but the Uruguayan says that the Naples side are a team on the up.

“Coach Walter Mazzarri has done some fine work here by creating a great squad and the club are doing some excellent things,” he told Corriere dello Sport.

“We are still targeting the very top and I think we’ll be able to go really far next season.”

Owen Coyle: Paid tribute to the way the entire club has handled a difficult period

Bolton boss Owen Coyle feels his Barclays Premier League manager of the month is for the club as a whole following a testing few weeks.

Wanderers were second from bottom after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City at the beginning of March, but go into this weekend’s home game against Fulham in 16th, a point clear of the drop zone with eight games left.

That surge is down to a sequence of three straight league victories – all against fellow strugglers in QPR, Blackburn and Wolves – which represents Bolton’s best run of form in the top flight since 2006.

Notably, the last two wins came after the traumatic experience of midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest in the abandoned FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on March 17th, and Coyle has paid tribute to the way the entire club has handled a difficult period.

Collective effort

“As much as they call it manager of the month, it is very much a collective effort at our football club.”Owen Coyle Quotes of the week

“The award is lovely but really it is for the football club,” said Coyle.

“As much as they call it manager of the month, it is very much a collective effort at our football club.

“The players, staff and fans have been incredible, so on behalf of everybody I’d say we are delighted to pick it up.

“We would certainly love to have April’s as well, because if we get that we’ll know we have secured ourselves in the Premier League, so that is what we must strive to do in the coming month.”