Roberto Mancini wary of Adam Johnson threat

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini knows Adam Johnson can make life difficult for his side as he returns to the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

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Roberto Mancini wary of Adam Johnson threat

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Mancini wary of Johnson

Last Updated: October 5, 2012 2:13pm

Adam Johnson: England winger left Manchester City for Sunderland in the summer

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has warned his players that they need to be careful against Sunderland winger Adam Johnson.

The 25-year-old will make his first appearance against the Premier League champions on Saturday since leaving them for the Black Cats in the summer.

Mancini signed Johnson from Middlesbrough in 2010 for £7million and is wary of the England international's talent.

"I think Adam played well here," said the Italian. "The problem was maybe that he didn't play always. For young players like him it is important to play every game.

"I am sure he will do well for Sunderland and go to another top team because he deserves this. He is a good guy and a good player.

"I hope he can have a good game on Saturday because I like Adam, I think he is a really good player.

"He wanted to play every game and here it was difficult, he decided to leave."

Mancini then expressed his frustration at City's early kick-off on Saturday, with the club having faced Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

"Now we need to recover very well because we play Saturday 12.45 - I don't understand this," he lamented.

"It is incredible that we play Wednesday night and now have two days and 12 hours to recover very well.

"We didn't play a very good game but we lost a lot of energy in the game and we need to recover.

"Everywhere (else) the team that plays in the Champions League plays three days or four days before the game and then after, three days minimum to play another game. Here, this is strange."

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EPL 12-13 City v QPR Mancini Preview Part 2

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We deserve Champions League, says Mancini

Roberto Mancini claimed his Manchester City side deserve to finish in the top four this season following their 2-1 win over West Ham.

Goals from Nigel De Jong and Pablo Zabaleta inside the first 15 minutes of Sunday’s English Premier League match at Eastlands proved enough for City to collect all three points, with West Ham unable to add to Demba Ba’s 33rd minute effort.

The victory means fourth-placed City are now seven points clear of Liverpool and Tottenham and on course to secure a Champions League qualification berth.

City and Spurs have four matches left this season, while Liverpool have played one game more.

“Everything is in our hands,” Mancini said. “We’ve been between first and fourth position all season. After what we’ve done, we deserve to be in the Champions League.”

“We are not under pressure. We know we have a big chance in this moment. The Champions League was our target at the start of the season and we are in a good position.”

“We’re also in the FA Cup final so we’ve done a good job.”

“We will relax after May 22. We must get the maximum points we can do. We have four games left and so do Tottenham.”

“The next game (against Tottenham) will be very hard for us but it’s important to get a positive result.”

West Ham meanwhile are now bottom of the league, three points from safety with matches against immediate relegation rivals Blackburn and Wigan coming up next.

And West Ham boss Avram Grant knows his team must pick up close to maximum points in the remaining fixtures if they are to avoid the drop.

“Now we play against a team that are in our area, so we have to win this game,” Grant said.

“I thought that other teams would take more points in the last two games, so the gap stays three points.”

“Our target is to take seven points – and we will try to take all nine – but we are playing against teams that also want the points.”

“But we believe if we use character we have shown in past games away against top teams, we can win games.”

Sun 1 May, 2011

We deserve Champions League, says Mancini

Roberto Mancini claimed his Manchester City side deserve to finish in the top four this season following their 2-1 win over West Ham.

Goals from Nigel De Jong and Pablo Zabaleta inside the first 15 minutes of Sunday’s English Premier League match at Eastlands proved enough for City to collect all three points, with West Ham unable to add to Demba Ba’s 33rd minute effort.

The victory means fourth-placed City are now seven points clear of Liverpool and Tottenham and on course to secure a Champions League qualification berth.

City and Spurs have four matches left this season, while Liverpool have played one game more.

“Everything is in our hands,” Mancini said. “We’ve been between first and fourth position all season. After what we’ve done, we deserve to be in the Champions League.”

“We are not under pressure. We know we have a big chance in this moment. The Champions League was our target at the start of the season and we are in a good position.”

“We’re also in the FA Cup final so we’ve done a good job.”

“We will relax after May 22. We must get the maximum points we can do. We have four games left and so do Tottenham.”

“The next game (against Tottenham) will be very hard for us but it’s important to get a positive result.”

West Ham meanwhile are now bottom of the league, three points from safety with matches against immediate relegation rivals Blackburn and Wigan coming up next.

And West Ham boss Avram Grant knows his team must pick up close to maximum points in the remaining fixtures if they are to avoid the drop.

“Now we play against a team that are in our area, so we have to win this game,” Grant said.

“I thought that other teams would take more points in the last two games, so the gap stays three points.”

“Our target is to take seven points – and we will try to take all nine – but we are playing against teams that also want the points.”

“But we believe if we use character we have shown in past games away against top teams, we can win games.”

Sun 1 May, 2011

Roberto Mancini Confident Mario Balotelli can Improve On and Off the Pitch

Roberto Mancini has praised Mario Balotelli following his team’s crushing 5-0 victory over Sunderland. The wayward striker failed to get on the scoresheet, but his performance impressed the City boss who hopes it is a sign of things to come.

‘Mario was perfect today,’ Mancini told reporters. ‘It wasn’t important he didn’t score today. He worked for the team, he ran all day, he was perfect. He must continue this.’

There have been strains on the relationship between the two as a result of the erratic behaviour of the Italian striker who has made headlines for all the wrong reasons since his arrival at Eastlands.

Recent controversies have included a fine for lobbing darts at a youth team player, an incident in which Balotelli’s sports car was smashed in and a red card in the Europa League last 16-clash with Dinamo Kiev.

Mancini has admitted that Balotelli’s behaviour has been unacceptable since his

Caption Competition #4: Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli Discuss Life

15 comments by Mad Dog and Glory on April 4th, 2011

What are the Man City boss and his troubled Italian striker thinking/saying? Over to you.

Mancini slams fixture congestion

Roberto Mancini has lamented Manchester City’s fixture pile-up ahead of their trip to Fulham on Sunday.

City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.

“We are not machines,” Mancini said.

“I have never seen one team play every two days in February or March.”

“It’s not just impossible for us, it is for every team.”

“I think that here we should change something because for all players, for English players and every time after England play World Cup, European Cup it is a problem because all the players are tired.”

“I think we should have more respect for the players because it is impossible.”

“We should use these two days to recover very well and I hope we can be fresh against Fulham.”

“We should try to win every game that’s possible, we will try to win but it is very hard to play so many games.”

“I think that we are very tired, it is important some players recover for Sunday and it will be a difficult game because Fulham play very well at this moment in time.”

“It will be a different game but I hope we can play like we did at Fulham.”

“Bobby Zamora is fit again and is an important player for them. It will be very difficult for us.”

Reserve goalkeepers Shay Given and Gunnar Nielson both sustained long-term injuries this week, leaving just Joe Hart and the unfancied Stuart Taylor as cover.

City faced a similar crisis last season when they were forced to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan after receiving special dispensation.

“Last year we were unlucky, it is impossible that we are as unlucky again, we have Stuart Taylor but I hope Joe Hart can play every game,” Mancini said.

“We have I don’t know how many players injured; I hope that Joe doesn’t have any problems. He is young and I hope that he can be strong.”

Vincent Kompany (hip) and James Milner (hamstring) are both doubtful.

Nigel De Jong (ankle), Adam Johnson (ankle) and Micah Richards (calf) are all definitely missing.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Mancini slams fixture congestion

Roberto Mancini has lamented Manchester City’s fixture pile-up ahead of their trip to Fulham on Sunday.

City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.

“We are not machines,” Mancini said.

“I have never seen one team play every two days in February or March.”

“It’s not just impossible for us, it is for every team.”

“I think that here we should change something because for all players, for English players and every time after England play World Cup, European Cup it is a problem because all the players are tired.”

“I think we should have more respect for the players because it is impossible.”

“We should use these two days to recover very well and I hope we can be fresh against Fulham.”

“We should try to win every game that’s possible, we will try to win but it is very hard to play so many games.”

“I think that we are very tired, it is important some players recover for Sunday and it will be a difficult game because Fulham play very well at this moment in time.”

“It will be a different game but I hope we can play like we did at Fulham.”

“Bobby Zamora is fit again and is an important player for them. It will be very difficult for us.”

Reserve goalkeepers Shay Given and Gunnar Nielson both sustained long-term injuries this week, leaving just Joe Hart and the unfancied Stuart Taylor as cover.

City faced a similar crisis last season when they were forced to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan after receiving special dispensation.

“Last year we were unlucky, it is impossible that we are as unlucky again, we have Stuart Taylor but I hope Joe Hart can play every game,” Mancini said.

“We have I don’t know how many players injured; I hope that Joe doesn’t have any problems. He is young and I hope that he can be strong.”

Vincent Kompany (hip) and James Milner (hamstring) are both doubtful.

Nigel De Jong (ankle), Adam Johnson (ankle) and Micah Richards (calf) are all definitely missing.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Mancini talks Dzeko, Arsenal

Edin Dzeko is all the talk, but Arsenal remains the focus for Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.

The Bosnian striker has attracted wide interest from Europe’s top clubs thanks to his prolific goal tally for Wolfsburg in the Budesliga, with City agreeing a fee for the 24-year-old on Tuesday.

But City’s Italian manager is keen to focus on his side’s crunch match at the Emirates.”I can say that we have agreed with Wolfsburg,” he said.

“Dzeko is a good player and all the teams in Europe want him. At this moment, we must focus on Arsenal. Afterwards we can talk about Dzeko.”

City have suffered a setback ahead of their preparations for game, with key duo Mario Balotelli and David Silva both ruled out through injury. The City manager conceded that Silva’s absence in particular will be a big loss.

“We have a big problem and we will have to change something for the game,” he said.”At the moment, David is a big key player for us and he is playing well.”

The Eastlands club have not won at Arsenal in 35 years and, although Mancini is seeking to end their winless streak, he will adopt a cautious approach for the match.

“Arsenal is a fantastic team and they play great football. We’ve prepared very well, but when two strong teams play each other, anything can happen,” he said.

A win for Arsene Wenger’s men will see them leapfrog City into second place, and Mancini has been impressed with his opposite number’s work this season.

“In his time at Arsenal, he has worked very well and built a strong team which has won titles,” he said.”It’s possible that they can win the title this year. They have incredible players and I like watching them play football.”

“I don’t think there is just one player we are fearful of. They have a good team with more experience this year.”

Tue 4 January, 2011

Mancini talks Dzeko, Arsenal

Edin Dzeko is all the talk, but Arsenal remains the focus for Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.

The Bosnian striker has attracted wide interest from Europe’s top clubs thanks to his prolific goal tally for Wolfsburg in the Budesliga, with City agreeing a fee for the 24-year-old on Tuesday.

But City’s Italian manager is keen to focus on his side’s crunch match at the Emirates.”I can say that we have agreed with Wolfsburg,” he said.

“Dzeko is a good player and all the teams in Europe want him. At this moment, we must focus on Arsenal. Afterwards we can talk about Dzeko.”

City have suffered a setback ahead of their preparations for game, with key duo Mario Balotelli and David Silva both ruled out through injury. The City manager conceded that Silva’s absence in particular will be a big loss.

“We have a big problem and we will have to change something for the game,” he said.”At the moment, David is a big key player for us and he is playing well.”

The Eastlands club have not won at Arsenal in 35 years and, although Mancini is seeking to end their winless streak, he will adopt a cautious approach for the match.

“Arsenal is a fantastic team and they play great football. We’ve prepared very well, but when two strong teams play each other, anything can happen,” he said.

A win for Arsene Wenger’s men will see them leapfrog City into second place, and Mancini has been impressed with his opposite number’s work this season.

“In his time at Arsenal, he has worked very well and built a strong team which has won titles,” he said.”It’s possible that they can win the title this year. They have incredible players and I like watching them play football.”

“I don’t think there is just one player we are fearful of. They have a good team with more experience this year.”

Tue 4 January, 2011

Mancini doesn´t expect Tyneside hostility

Roberto Mancini believes that Manchester City’s visit to Newcastle on Sunday will not be overshadowed by their ill-tempered clash in October.

French winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who joined Newcastle on a season-long loan at the start of the campaign, had his tibia and fibia broken by a horror tackle from Nigel De Jong in the opening minutes of that game at the Eastlands.

The Dutch midfielder went unpunished for the tackle that left Ben Arfa needing surgery and he has failed to shake-off his ‘bad boy’ reputation since. The World Cup finalist was suspended for City’s defeat to Everton on Monday but will return to face Newcastle fans on Boxing Day.

When asked if Alan Pardew’s men would have extra incentive to get a win over the Premier League’s big spenders, Mancini took the opportunity to send Ben Arfa a get well message and De Jong a message of support.

“I don’t think that is connected,” Mancini said. “This is just a football match I was very sorry for Hatem Ben Arfa and I hope he comes back quickly.”

“Nigel De Jong is a very important player for us because he is the only player we have with his characteristics. He is always in front of the defence, helping them and the other players. I think he is very important.”

Mancini will have Mario Balotelli available for the first time since he collected the Golden Boy award for being the best player in Europe under 21 and he has some advice for the surly Italian.

“I think Mario must smile more, to play football is one of the best things you can do,” Mancini said.

“I like the fact that Mario Balotelli is confident in himself, I think he has all the attributes to be one of the best players in the world but he is young and he must improve.”

“Only if you play really well in every game and score in every game can you say you are one of the best players.”

“It’s my opinion that the Premier League is so much different to the Italian league and I think Mario needs to understand the league better.”

Thu 23 December, 2010

AC Milan Will Take Manchester City Star If Roberto Mancini Wants to Sell

Manchester City Boss Roberto Mancini Once Again Slams English Drinking Culture

"Roberto Mancini Manchester City 2010/11 Manchester City V FC Timisoara 26/08/10 UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round Second Leg Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" /

Roberto Mancini Says He Will Allow Shay Given To Leave Manchester City

5 comments by I Believe I Can Fry on September 20th, 2010

The Manchester City boss has stated that he will let goalkeeper Shay Given leave if he wishes to do so.

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