Mancini demands Manchester City improvement despite rout

MANCHESTER: Roberto Mancini has warned his Man­chester City players that he wants to see an improvement – despite the club’s flying start to the campaign.

City make their Champions League debut at home to Napoli on Wednesday on the back of four wins out of four in the Premier League.

Their latest success, an easy 3-0 win over Wigan at Eastlands on Saturday was inspired by a hat-trick from Sergio Aguero. But Mancini believes there is much more to come from his expensively-assembled side, and insists there is room for improvement.

“I think we had about 15 chances in the first half and only scored one goal and this is a problem because every moment in a game can change,” said the City manager.

“Maybe the game was closed after the second goal, but next time we have to close the game in the first half. The whole team played very well, but we need to improve. We’ve started the season very well, but the season will be long and if we are to stay on top for a long time we need to improve.”

Mancini also claimed his players are suffering from fatigue ahead of their Champions League debut – despite a recent 13-day international break.

He said some were suffering as they had played two games for their countries during the break.

“The players are so tired,” revealed the Italian. “Some of them have played two games for their national team and need to recover over the next three days.”

Aguero proved he is in excellent form ahead of Napo­li’s visit after taking his tally to six goals in four games since joining from Atletico Madrid for £38mil last month.

But Mancini was reluctant to single out the Argentina international after an easy win which ended Wigan’s unbeaten seven-match run.

He said Carlos Tevez, who started for the first time this season after being stripped of the captaincy, was just as impressive.

“Sergio played very well but so too did all my players. I enjoy watching it because I like it when we play football very well,” added Mancini.

“Carlos (Tevez) is not 100% fit at this moment, but I am happy for him because for me he played very well. He linked well with Sergio. It was important for him to start and play well. Maybe in two or three days’ time he will be 100%.”

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes City can flourish against Europe’s elite after witnessing the likes of Aguero and David Silva destroy his side. — AFP

Taken from The Star Online

MANCHESTER: Football/ Premier League - Tricky Swans

City boss Mancini not taking things for granted against Welsh delight

Monday, August 15th, 2011 12:31:00

Mancini: Difficult to play against a newly-promoted side

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini is anticipating a tough time when his side host newly-promoted Swansea at Etihad Stadium tomorrow (3am).

On paper, a home fixture against a team who have come up from the Championship would appear to many to be an ideal assignment for City in their Premier League opener.

But last season's promoted trio Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool — who memorably got their campaign started with a 4-0 thumping of Wigan at DW Stadium — all fared well in their initial round of league matches and were each positioned in the top half after 10 games.

With that in mind, there is no danger of Mancini underestimating the task that awaits his players.

"When you start the season and you play against a team who come from the Championship, it is really  difficult," said the Italian.

"Last season, with all the teams that came from the Championship, it was very hard to play against them in the first 10 games and it will be the same this time around. But this is why the Premier League is difficult. Every game is hard."

Swansea will be the first Welsh team to compete in the Premier League.

They have become renowned for their dynamic brand of football over the last few years and Mancini is well aware of the kind of challenge the Swans are likely to pose.

"I have watched many of their games," said Mancini.

"Swansea play good football.

They don't play long ball and they have good players.

"Their manager Brendan Rodgers is good — last season, he played really good football and got promoted."
Although Mancini's expensively assembled squad are being widely tipped to mount a serious title challenge this season, he has been keen to stress the difficulties of the early part of a season, both in terms of player recruitment and condition.

He is currently being forced to operate short of what he had hoped, with any talks over Samir Nasri's expected move from Arsenal too late to give the Frenchman a chance of being involved against Swansea.

Record signing Sergio "Kun" Aguero is still some way short of full fitness as well, while controversial Carlos Tevez only came back to training last Monday.

"I think the first 10 games are very difficult — the squad is not 100 per cent ready," said Mancini.

"It needs four or five games to find good form for the players."

Tevez will sit out the game tomorrow, while Aguero may feature for the first time since his £38m (RM185.7m) move from Atletico Madrid, but Mancini reckons the 23-year-old can contribute only 45 minutes at best.

Taken from Malay Mail Online