Man City

[joew2005]

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Tevez blow gives Mancini 'big problem'

Roberto Mancini has revealed Carlos Tevez could be out 4 up 2 4 weeks aft sustaining a hamstring injury during Monday's 3-0 defeat @ Liverpool.

The news means ManC will be w/o their captain 4 Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against ManU.

Mancini had initially said he expected Tevez 2 be out 4 a fortnight aft he was substituted in the 1st half @ Anfield, but it now appears likely the 4ward will struggle 2 return b4 City's penultimate Premier League game against Stoke on May 14.

"Tevez is not available 4 Saturday," Mancini said. "I think he will recover in 3 or 4 weeks. It is a big problem but we can't take any risks. We hv 6 games left & hopefully we can get Carlos back 4 the last 2 or 3 games."

Mancini is now encouraging Mario Balotelli & Edin Dzeko 2 seize the opportunity.

Balotelli has shown signs of his quality since his summer move fr Inter & has scored 10 goals in all competitions, but he has also attracted criticism 4 his work-rate & off-field behaviour. Dzeko, meanwhile, has not yet scored a Premier League goal, although he has scored 1s in the FA Cup against Notts County & twice in the Europa League against Aris Salonika.

"I still hv 2 decide wat 2 do [in the semi-final], but both players know tis is an important chance 4 them," Mancini said. "Every player knows tis is an important moment 4 the club. If we win, we can go 2 a final, so every player will give 100%."

In defence, City will @ least be boosted by the return of Micah Richards, who was back in training on Wednesday aft suffering a hamstring injury last month.

"Micah Richards is available," Mancini said. "He trained 2 days ago & again yesterday. He will be okay."


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Mourinho rules out City

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says there is no chance he will take charge @ ManC & played down talk of Cristiano Ronaldo joining AC Milan.

Roberto Mancini's position @ Eastlands has come under scrutiny as City battle 2 secure Champions League football 4 next season, & Mourinho - who has repeatedly spoken of his desire 2 return 2 England - has been touted as a possible successor.

Mourinho, though, has said he intends 2 remain in charge @ Madrid next season "unless the press sacks me" & has ruled out City, saying: "4 me 2 ManC, I say it is impossible."

He was more equivocal when asked about AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi's claims tat he will try 2 take Ronaldo 2 the San Siro next season, although the deal still appears highly unlikely.

Mourinho said: "I'm not saying it's impossible, becos in football you never know, & Berlusconi can make a crazy offer, but it must be a crazy offer becos Real don't 1 2 sell Cristiano Ronaldo."

FIFA agent Ernesto Bronzetti believes there is no prospect of Ronaldo leaving the Bernabeu in the imminent future.

"Florentino Perez has absolutely no desire 2 sell Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "Maybe in a few years' time he could as anything is possible, but not now."

[joew2005]

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Scholes: City lack our belief

Paul Scholes has claimed ManU hold a mental edge over their neighbours City & tat their FA Cup opponents' big spending has only spurred United 2 1 2 beat them more.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's semi-final @ Wembley, Scholes said United's superior belief is wat has helped them maintain a strong record over City despite the millions injected in recent years by their wealthy Arab owners.

Referring 2 the fact City hv only beaten United once in 8 attempts under the Abu Dhabi United Group's ownership, Scholes said: "They will be pissed off abt tat. Even then, tat game was a 1st leg, with us having another game 2 make up 4 it.

"We hv made a habit of nicking games in the last minute. I've done it, Michael Owen's done it, Wayne [Rooney] did it last season &, again, with his unbelievable goal in the league tis season. That's the diff betw the 2 teams. We hv a belief tat we can beat anybody, but if City hv tat, I'm not 2 sure."

And Scholes, who has been scoring goals against City since they were much less of a threat 2 United's trophy-winning aspirations, believes tat United enter today's derbies with a new vigour based on a desire 2 put their rivals in their place.

"[The $ has] helped us a bit," he said. "It has spurred us on when we hv played them. It has made us concentrate a little bit more than we normally would against them."

But despite tat, Scholes refuses 2 consider City 2 be a "main rival" 2 United until they end their trophy drought. "When they r 4th or 5th, or wherever they r in the league, I don't think they can be classed as a main rival. Our main rivals r obviously Arsenal & Chelsea. I think City r just a rival becos of where they r [geographically], & Liverpool the same."

Scholes is in confident mood ahead of Saturday's blockbuster. He praised the form of his team-mates in their 3-1 aggregate defeat of Chelsea in their Champions League quarter-final & stated tat City will be much less of a threat without captain & top-scorer Carlos Tevez, who has a hamstring injury.

He said: "Tevez is definitely their talisman. As much as Wayne is a top player & has come back in2 unbelievable form in recent weeks, without Wayne, we can bring in our top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov. Wat k City do? I'm not so sure. Dzeko hasn't adapted yet, but it takes time."

So confident is Scholes tat he even dropped the 'T' word: "I never really thought abt the Treble until tis week, but we're in the semi-finals in Europe now, the semi-final of the FA Cup & we're 7 points clear in the league. But just as you start 2 think abt a Treble, it can easily be taken away by 1 game on Saturday & we're desperate not 2 lose 2 City."

Scholes speculated tat Saturday's clash could be his last derby, although he insisted a decision on whether he will play on aft tis season will wait until the summer.

[joew2005]

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Mancini desperate to end trophy drought

ManC boss Roberto Mancini has said "the 1st trophy is the hardest 1 2 win" as he seeks 2 end the club's long trophy drought.

City hv not won a trophy since the League Cup in 1976 but, given the vast investment in the squad in recent times, expectations r growing.

Their hopes will be boosted substantially if they can defeat ManU @ Wembley in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final, though, & Mancini believes winning the competition could pave the way 2 regular success in the future.

"The 1st trophy is the hardest 1 2 win," he said. "It doesn't depend on the $ you spend. Every top club should spend $, but it is important 2 win a title. For tis I think if we go in2 the final, we can change everything."

Sir Alex Ferguson had been under pressure @ Old Trafford when he lifted the FA Cup in 1990, 4 years aft his arrival @ the club.

"It took Ferguson 7 years 2 win the league," Mancini said. "2day is very different fr 25 years ago. 2day if you r a manager who wins nothing for 6 or 7 years, it is difficult.

"Aft 15 months I m very happy in my job becos I know how difficult it is 2 build a team 2 win trophies."

He added: "I hv respect 4 ManU becos they hv won everything 4 many years. To begin with, they won a single trophy aft a long time with nothing. Now we r in the same position.

"We can go on 2 do wat United hv done. We hv a chance 2morrow & 4 tis we should be happy."

[joew2005]

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Mancini: Cup could lead to title triumph

Roberto Mancini believes winning the FA Cup could be the springboard 2 a title triumph next season 4 ManC.

Mancini's side face ManU in Saturday's semi-final, with either Stoke or Bolton awaiting in the final @ Wembley.

The Italian won the Coppa Italia in his 1st season @ Inter b4 going on 2 secure successive league titles, & he is confident cup success could also spur City on2 greater feats.

"I can see us winning the title next year," Mancini told The Sun. "If we win the FA Cup tis year or get in the final & get in the Champions League, then tat will give us a massive push, we will be flying. 1s you get tat 1st success you hv the winning mentality.

"I can see the same thing happening here as @ Inter if I m given time. Anything can happen if you don't win, every club can change its manager. But every time you change a manager you r just starting again, every time.

"I knew tis job would be very difficult. When you win every1 gets recognition, when you lose only 1 man is responsible. But I love football, I love tis job & I m sure ManC can be a top team."

Inter did not win the UCL under him.
Inter won the UCL under The Special One.

[joew2005]

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Toure hits winner, Scholes off

Paul Scholes was sent off as ManC ended ManU's treble bid by booking their 1st FA Cup final appearance since 1981.

Man-of-the-Match Yaya Toure was City's 2nd-half matchwinner, seizing on a catastrophic blunder by Michael Carrick b4 finishing smartly past Edwin van der Sar.

Roberto Mancini's men just abt deserved it 2 aft surviving an early pummelling & 2 glorious opportunities 4 Dimitar Berbatov.

Their task was made easier when Scholes departed though, dismissed 4 a thigh-high studs-1st lunge on Pablo Zabaleta.

It means there will be no repeat of 1999 for United, who must concentrate on their bid 4 glory in the Premier League & Champions League.

City, watched by chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak, hv the chance 2 "change history'' as Mancini has demanded, & will return 2 Wembley on May 14 to face either Bolton or Stoke looking 2 collect their 1st trophy in 35 years.

Unfortunately, firebrand Mario Balotelli threatened 2 put a dampener on celebrations when he unwisely rejoiced in front of the United fans, triggering a shoving match with Anderson & an angry reaction fr Rio Ferdinand - who also squared up 2 City coach David Platt.

The current Premier League leaders took a stranglehold on the contest as soon as the polite opening exchanges had been completed.

Tat the Red Devils did not go in front during tat prolonged period of dominance was due 2 a magnificent save fr Joe Hart & a moment 2 4get 4 Berbatov.

Challenged 2 respond 2 the startling emergence of Javier Hernandez by his manager, the City goal 1st opened up 4 Berbatov when Carrick intercepted a Gareth Barry pass & began a fabulous 1-touch move tat involved Scholes & Park Ji-sung.

The Bulgarian found himself 1-on-1 with the outstanding Hart & went 4 the bottom corner. The England goalkeeper won.

United quickly retrieved possession & when Nani gave Zabaleta the slip, his low cross invited the close range finish. However, the man who had found the net 4 United 22 times tis season scooped over fr inside the 6-yard box.

Nemanja Vidic turned an Antonio Valencia corner wide & Berbatov looped a far-post header just over as City's defence continued 2 creak without snapping completely.

It was half an hour b4 City managed 2 push their opponents back & make them do some defending of their own.

Although he had been close 2 non-existent aft being handed the job of filling the massive gap created by Carlos Tevez's hamstring injury, Balotelli eventually burst in2 life, letting fly with a rasping 30-yard drive Van der Sar touched over.

Had Balotelli got on the end of Adam Johnson's corner shortly afterwards, United would hv been in trouble.

As it was, the ball floated over the Italian 2 Joleon Lescott, who could not keep his 1st-time volley down.

Blues skipper Vincent Kompany curled a 20-yard effort just wide as half-time approached, then Balotelli failed 2 keep a near-post effort on target immediately aft the break.

However, they were not abt 2 let United off the hook in the manner Berbatov had done earlier.

Toure needed the assistance of a woeful attempt 2 find Scholes by Carrick. But once the Ivorian had been invited in2 the Red Devils' box, he finished in style, beating Van der Sar with a low shot thru the veteran Dutchman's legs.

Now it was United's turn 2 wobble, just as they did in the Carling Cup semi-final 15 months ago.

On tat occasion, Mancini failed 2 seize the initiative, settling 4 wat he had in the 1st leg & watching his team swept aside in the 2nd.

They didn't hv Toure then, or David Silva.

It was the Spain star who crossed 2 present Lescott with another golden opportunity, which the England defender headed wide.

Given Ferguson compared the striker 2 Gary Lineker yesterday, it was not a surprise Javier Hernandez was asked 2 complete a salvage mission.

When the Mexican was introduced, United already had the free-kick tat Hart pushed on2 the bar as Nani went 4 the roof of City's net.

The comeback powers of Ferguson's team r the stuff of legend. Scholes' awful challenge on Zabaleta presented a challenge even they were up against it.

Carrick tried 2 atone 4 his blunder with a curling shot & Park attempted 2 steer a header 2wards goal but on neither occasion was Hart troubled 2 make the save.

As valiant as United's 10-men fought, City came closer 2 increasing their lead thru Balotelli @ the end.

It didn't matter & now the door 2 glory stands ajar 4 Mancini's men.

Hart calm despite City win

ManC goalkeeper Joe Hart enjoyed the triumphant celebrations @ Wembley but there was a word of caution fr the England international alongside the joy.

"It means the world, just look @ us,'' said Hart aft a match. "The boys r over the moon, the fans r over the moon & the staff r over the moon but we've won nothing yet.''

Hart told ITV1: "We've done nothing yet but we've got ourselves in a good position in the league & in the final & I'm so happy 4 the people (fans) here.''

Turning 2 Toure's goal, coming on the back of a Michael Carrick error, Hart said: "It was a fantastic goal, he was fired up @ half-time. He's an emotional guy & he lets his emotion show on the pitch.''

[joew2005]

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Mancini hits back at City critics

Roberto Mancini has hit back @ critics of ManC's transfer policy, claiming his Premier League rivals hv also spent big & tat City r still looking 2 build a squad by signing young players.

Mancini claimed ManC r being unfairly vilified 4 buying their way in2 the footballing elite aft their £300million splurge put them on the brink of a 1st trophy in 35 years. City became the richest club in the world overnite when Sheik Mansour took them over 2-&-a-half years ago & hv since embarked on a spending spree unprecedented in the history of the game.

Tat investment will begin 2 pay off if City win next month's FA Cup final, which they reached aft beating arch-rivals ManU @ Wembley on Saturday. But it has also fostered resentment among supporters of other clubs, something manager Mancini insists is unjustified. Pointing out Chelsea & United had also paid huge transfer fees in pursuit of success, Mancini argued there was more negativity 2wards City's spending.

He added: "Many times I've been asked abt our spending but we didn't buy Cristiano Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi. We bought young players, good players.''

Mancini, who spent around £125million last summer alone, added: "All these players need 2 improve becos it's the 1st year they're playing in the Barclays Premier League. If I'm not mistaken, many years ago when fantastic players came to England, like (Eric) Cantona, @ the start it was difficult.''

Of City's starting XI on Saturday, only goalkeeper Joe Hart had been @ the club 4 more than 3 years, while several had been signed in the last 15 months. But with vast sums of money @ stake, Mancini has been under pressure 2 bring instant success 2 Eastlands, with Champions League football next season the minimum requirement. Mancini is adamant City will finish in the top 4 & reiterated his claim winning the FA Cup could inspire a Premier League title push next term.

But he added: "The manager, I think, needs time becos, in 1 year, you can't build a strong team. It's important tat you improve every week.''

City certainly did tat on Saturday aft their embarrassing Premier League defeat @ Liverpool 5 days earlier. They also cleared a huge psychological hurdle, having not reached a cup final for 30 years & doing so with a victory over their fiercest rivals.

Mancini said: "Our mentality will be more strong becos we beat United - & United played with their best team. (They were) without (Wayne) Rooney, but we played without (Carlos) Tevez. You can win against them only if you play very strong, you play very concentrated. If not, it's a difficult day. They win becos they hv more experience. But now, if we work, we can arrive very, very close 2 them.''

He added: "The final will be harder becos probably we will go in the final & we r fav. In 90 mins, anything can happen. If we play with the same spirit, we can win. If not, we don't win.''

United fans hv a banner @ Old Trafford which is updated every year City go without winning a trophy. It recently ticked around to 35 years & Mancini said: "They can take off tis banner. We hope we can take it off tis year.''

ManC midfielder Gareth Barry says reaching the FA Cup final is "a massive moment'' 4 the club & hailed the "perfect" team performance.

Barry, 30, said: "It is a massive moment 4 the club 2 reach the final. It has been a long wait. So it is important now tat we win it. The next game is going 2 be just as tough, with the pressure maybe more on us. It is about winning tat 1st trophy. It was mentioned @ the beginning of the season. If we can win tat trophy, then maybe more will follow. The 1st 1 is always the most difficult 1.''

Barry insists the result proves the players r united despite various training ground bust-ups.

"There were a few great individual performances but it was the perfect team performance, '' he said. "We all stuck 2gether, as you hv 2 do 2 beat ManU. Hopefully tat will show we r 2gether as a group. Maybe we did show United a bit 2 much respect initially. They played their typical way, dominated the game, but as the match went on we grew in confidence. We created a couple of chances @ the end of the 1st half & took tat momentum in2 the 2nd half. As the match went on, we grew.''

Barry refused 2 be drawn on recent comments by Joey Barton in which the Newcastle midfielder ridiculed him as "a teacher's pet''.

He said: "You approach every game trying 2 do your best. I always do. If you get criticism, you get criticism. That's the game. You try & respond 2 it. I always give 100%. If it's good enough, you get selected again. If it's not... I don't really want 2 speak abt another professional, positive or negative.''

United were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd min when veteran midfielder Paul Scholes was sent off 4 a lunge @ Pablo Zabaleta. Barry admitted the former England international's dismissal gave them a lift.

"It helped helped us massively, maybe the end of the 2nd half would hv been different otherwise, '' he said. "But we ended the game strongly & professionally. We saw it out. They had a couple of half-chances but 2 keep United out with a clean sheet is a great achievement. We've seen how many times over the years they've scored late on.''

[joew2005]

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Mancini confident over top four

Roberto Mancini remains confident ManC can qualify 4 next season's Champions League following Tottenham's 3-3 draw with Arsenal.

Rafael van der Vaart's late equaliser saw Spurs snatch a point @ White Hart Lane 2 all but end Arsenal's title hopes, but a victory against their rivals would hv seen them go level on points with City.

Spurs travel 2 Eastlands next month where victory would put Tottenham firmly back in the race 4 Europe's premier competition, but Mancini knows his side hold their fate in their own hands.

"When it went 3-1 it was better 4 us but 3-3 is a good result," Mancini said of the result in the North London derby. "Everything is in our hands - we r not dependent on Tottenham or other teams. If we win our games we go in the Champions League."

City remain on course 4 their 1st silverware since 1976 & will play their FA Cup final opponents Stoke 3 days later in the league.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has appealed 4 the match 2 be moved, claiming a conflict of interest - if City win the FA Cup & qualify 4 the Champions League, Stoke will secure Europa League football 4 next season, but Mancini insists it will not be an issue.

"I hv respect 4 every opinion but I hv never seen 1 team tat doesn't play a game @ 100% - that is impossible," Mancini said.

Meanwhile, Mancini is optimistic Carlos Tevez will recover fr his hamstring strain in time 4 the FA Cup final. "I hope Carlos can recover on time as we hv 4 weeks," he said.

ManC's remaining EPL games r:
Apr 25 away vs Blackburn Rovers,
May 1 @ home vs West Ham United,
May 7 away vs Everton,
May 10 @ home vs Tottenham Hotspur,
May 17 @ home vs Stoke City City &
May 22 away vs Bolton Wanderers.

[average jOe]

Top 4?

Maybe not this season.

For me, a change of manager is imminent.

Take what u read with a pinch of salt. Soccer players, managers or even directors had been infamous with what they said. Most of what they said are rehearsed.

They are most cosistent with their perpetual promises that they can't fullfiled.

Man City had already spent so much money, and I think the owners will be looking for instant dividends. Patience is not their forte.

They might have just won something but qualification for champion league football will be the yardstick by which how the manager will be judged.

[joew2005]

it ain't over till it's over.
there r still 6 games remaining.
top 4,maybe ... maybe not ...

[joew2005]

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Mancini may have to wait for vindication

Many times I've been asked abt our spending but we didn't buy CR, Messi. We bought young players, good players." - Roberto Mancini, April 16

Victories offer almost limitless levels of vindication 4 managers. When they come against the club's fiercest rivals, setting up the opportunity of a 1st trophy for 35 years & r delivered by 1 of his own signings, tat sense is exacerbated. Yaya Toure's FA Cup semi-final winner against ManU may prove 2 be the goal tat saves Mancini's job; it also could be deemed the most important in ManC's recent history.

Yet 2 use tat as proof tat City hv spent well over the last 12 months is a leap tat closer analysis does not support. In 1 sense Mancini is fighting a losing battle in any argument; prices mushroom the moment City enter the bidding so criticism is a constant. But Sheikh Mansour's wealth means tat value 4 money does not need 2 rank highly among the criteria 4 a signing.

Even if they r judged purely on their performances on the pitch, however, City's recent recruitment is not particularly distinguished. In the last 12 months, 7 1st-team players hv arrived @ Eastlands 4 a combined cost of £145 million. Only 1 can be described as an unqualified success: David Silva.

The Spaniard is a wonderful talent, a classy creator who can make the difficult appear simple. Quietly, he has become integral - indeed, there is the sense tat Silva's skills haven't received enough recognition fr impartial observers. In a team which can be 2 functional, he is the welcome exception, & Carlos Tevez's supplier-in-chief.

Yet as Silva is a WC winner & an even more prominent member of Spain's Euro 2008 champions, a question can be posed: how hard is it really, when money is no object, 2 identify players of such prowess? Here the answer is provided, 2 varying degrees, by the other additions: tougher than might be imagined.

Yaya Toure is 1 who divides opinion. Mancini's reinvention of the forceful Ivorian paid dividends @ Wembley, but 4 some of the season he has seemed miscast as an attacking midfielder, a bulldozer employed in a role more suitable 4 a classic car. He has provided some unexpectedly delicate passes 2 accompany his 10 goals yet his deployment seems a defensive gambit tat often does not pay off.

Aleksandar Kolarov is another who is neither triumph nor disaster, but lingers somewhere in betw. The Serb is a dogged competitor with a ferociously eye-catching shot but his lack of pace means Mancini sometimes favours the more dependable Pablo Zabaleta @ left back. Ignore Kolarov's £16 million fee & the requirement was 4 a player who ranked among the division's 3 or 4 best in his position. At the moment, Kolarov does not meet the criteria 2 be regarded @ tat level.

He is nevertheless much City's best defensive buy of the last 12 months. Jerome Boateng was Germany's regular left back in the WC & seemed 2 hv arrived as City's preferred option on the right. Instead, aft an injury-hit year, he appears 2 hv been leapfrogged in the pecking order by both Zabaleta & Micah Richards.

If anything, James Milner has been still more underwhelming. He may be able 2 empathise with Toure's troubles while envying the Ivorian. His final year @ Aston Villa convinced the Englishman he is a box-2-box midfielder, the role Mancini saves 4 Toure. Yet 4 1 who has excelled on either flank b4, Milner has been unimpressive in his old day job as a winger. His presence on the bench rarely merits a mention now.

Nor 4 1 who joined so recently, does tat of Edin Dzeko. The £27 million 4ward's 15 games hv only brought 4 goals; 2 against a Notts County side near the foot of League 1 & 2 versus Aris Salonika, who appeared little better. Like 5 of the other 6 newcomers, Dzeko was an import who, by definition, could need time 2 acclimatise 2 English football. Like Kolarov & Toure, however, he possesses a physicality & a style of play 2 suggest a seamless integration might hv been possible. Instead, it has not. Then, most controversially of all, there is Mario Balotelli. Ignore some of the more lurid headlines abt City's enfant terrible & a record of 10 goals in 24 games appears respectable; none, however, has come against top-8 opponents & his culpability in their Europa League exit 2 Dynamo Kiev, a dismissal tat provided a prime example of why he has more cards than goals, means tat Balotelli has more in the debit than the credit column.

And he, more than any of the others, was definitely Mancini's choice. While the recipients of praise & blame can be debated - Milner, 4 instance, appears the preference of City's football administration officer Brian Marwood while Toure was 1st identified in Mark Hughes' time as manager - only 2 of the 7, Silva & Toure, r even assured of a place in the strongest side. They may be young, good players - though when 1 is 27 & 4 more 25, the definition of youthful has been stretched - but they r no Ronaldos or Messis. Only Silva comes remotely close 2 tat category of player.

[joew2005]

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Balotelli driving City mad with fines

ManC striker Mario Balotelli is evidently having as much trouble parking his car as he has putting on a bib, as it has been revealed tat his luxury Maserati has been impounded 27 times since his arrival in England.

A report in the Sun has claimed tat Balotelli has racked up nearly £10,000 in fines, with an average of 3 parking tickets per day arriving due 2 his lack of parking nous.

A source @ the club told the paper: "Mario will drive fr his luxury apartment 2 a restaurant a few streets away & leave the car on double yellows. The other week the Maserati misfired so he just abandoned it. Staff hv had 2 bail it out 27 times.

"The valet the club uses empties the glove box of tickets every time he cleans it. Mario doesn't seem 2 care. It's a drop in the ocean 2 him.

"Mario was pulled over by the police & he had £25,000 cash on the passenger seat. They asked him why & he said, 'Because I can'. He doesn't care much 4 authority."

[joew2005]

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Mancini plays down Juve talk

Roberto Mancini has stressed tat he 1s 2 remain @ ManC amid reports he will take charge of Juventus in the summer.

Juve hv confirmed Gigi Del Neri's position will be reviewed @ the end of the season with the club currently 7th in Serie A, & there has been speculation tat Mancini is under consideration.

With City currently on course 2 secure Champions League football next season & having reached the FA Cup final, there appears 2 be little reason 4 City 2 axe Mancini, & the Italian said @ his press conference on Thursday tat he intended 2 stay @ Eastlands.

"It's normal in England & Italy tat there r reports in the last 2 or 3 months of the season saying every player or manager can change team, & we can say every day it's not true," he said. "If it's down 2 me, I will stay here."

Juve legend Marco Tardelli had said earlier tis week tat he did not believe Mancini would 1 2 move 2 Turin.

"Now it's difficult 2 find anyone 2 replace Del Neri," he told Radio Sportiva. "Mancini is happy in England & I don't think he can accept the Bianconeri's offer. He won't come 2 Turin.

"Besides, Del Neri cannot shoulder all the blame, as it must be shared out betw many people. If you remove Alessandro Del Piero & Gigi Buffon, Juve hv no world-class players.

"Del Neri made mistakes, but the squad @ his disposal was not worthy of a title race, certainly not on a par with Milan & Inter. It's difficult 2 judge his work in these circumstances."


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Juventus cool on Roberto Mancini link

Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta has confessed he is an admirer of Luka Modric, & he has played down a recent meeting with the agent of Roberto Mancini.

Marotta sparked speculation over a summer move by Juventus 4 ManC boss Mancini, aft he met with agent Giorgio De Giorgis. Juve r currently 7th in Serie A under Luigi Del Neri, & it was reported tat The Old Lady were considering a move 4 former Inter coach Mancini.

However, Marotta insists everything was abv board, commenting 2 Sky Sports Italia: "I met Giorgio De Giorgis, but we just chatted abt football in general.

"Even abt Roberto Mancini? No, Mancini has a contract with City & we talked with De Giorgis abt players."

Those conversations r likely 2 hv included Tottenham schemer Modric, among others, with Marotta admitting the Croatian is a player admired by Juventus.

"[Stephan] Lichtsteiner? We like him," Marotta told Corriere dello Sport. "Modric? He's an interesting footballer but we r following many players.

"Neymar & [Carlos] Tevez? They r 2 great players tat every1 1s, including Juventus, but we must consider the economic aspects. On Neymar there is a strong interest of Chelsea."

Spurs go in2 Wednesday's clash with Arsenal knowing they must win 2 put pressure on ManC in the race 4 Champions League qualification. And goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes recently admitted he fears Modric will leave if the club cannot offer top-level European competition next season.

"It's important we qualify 4 the Champions League again becos we know it won't be easy 2 keep players like [Gareth] Bale & Modric," Gomes said. "But the club thinks big & 1s 2 keep the best. Spurs will do their best 2 keep them."

1 player who looks set 4 a switch 2 Turin when the transfer window reopens is Lyon's Michel Bastos, with the Brazilian's agent dismissing rumours he would reject a move 2 Juve if they failed 2 qualify 4 the Champions League.

"Juventus do not need 2 be worried abt these rumours," he told Tuttosport. "The prospect of playing in the Italian league & meeting teams such as Inter & AC Milan twice per year is more important 4 Michel than playing in the Champions League.

"It's just a matter of waiting 4 us now. The directors of both clubs hv yet 2 talk. I don't expect there 2 be any problems though. Lyon hv told us tat they're willing 2 open talks & 2 cash in on Michel."

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=293139&cc=4716

De Jong strikes as City sink Hammers

ManC kept themselves firmly on course 4 Champions League qualification with victory over West Ham @ Eastlands.

City were 2-0 up within the opening 15 minutes, Nigel de Jong powering home his 1st goal 4 the club & then Pablo Zabaleta guiding a shot on target beyond Robert Green which Lars Jacobsen inadvertently blasted in2 the net as he attempted 2 kick the ball away.

The Hammers hit back in the 33rd minute thru Demba Ba, but it was the hosts who looked more likely 2 score another aft the break & deservedly made off with all 3 points.

The result means City consolidate their top 4 spot in the Premier League, moving 7 points clear of 5th-placed Liverpool.

West Ham, meanwhile, r still bottom of table, 3 points adrift of safety with 3 games left 2 play.

Aft the visitors had won an early corner & Danny Gabbidon sent a wild effort over fr distance, City were soon in the ascendancy & driving 4ward.

David Silva saw a shot deflect wide & fr the resulting corner, Mario Balotelli headed the wrong side of the post.

Silva then teed up Gareth Barry, who sent a shot in2 Green's arms.

At the other end, Thomas Hitzlsperger sent a free-kick in2 the box & it fell 2 James Tomkins, who could not fashion a proper shot.

Almost immediately City were back on the attack, with the lively Adam Johnson cutting inside fr the rite & hitting a low drive narrowly wide.

A minute later the hosts were in front as the Hammers failed 2 deal with Aleksandar Kolarov's corner & the ball came out 2 De Jong, who fired it in2 the corner fr outside the area.

It took another 5 mins 4 City 2 double their lead, Zabaleta playing a neat 1-2 with Silva & sending the ball across Green 2wards goal.

Jacobsen rushed in 2 try 2 make a clearance but could only fire it in2 the roof of his own net.

West Ham were looking bruised & their captain Matthew Upson - who had been involved in a collision with Balotelli - had 2 come off in the 26th minute, Manuel Da Costa the man coming on in his place.

They had a great chance 2 pull a goal back just aft the half hour mark, though, as Robbie Keane found himself thru 1-on-1 against Joe Hart.

The Irishman failed 2 make the most of the opportunity as Hart got down 2 save, but moments later the visitors did make it 2-1 thru Demba Ba.

Hitzlsperger's cross in2 the box appeared 2 be handled by Joleon Lescott, but the ball fell straight 2 Ba, who dispatched it past Hart.

West Ham looked 2 keep up the pressure but City continued 2 create chances, with Balotelli miscuing an acrobatic attempt & Adam Johnson having the final shot of the 1st half, which Green collected.

Despite De Jong having 2 be substituted 4 James Milner @ the break, City made a bright start 2 the 2nd period & Balotelli crashed a shot against the bar 10 minutes in, Yaya Toure hitting the rebound @ Green.

West Ham went close when Da Costa brought a save out of Hart with a flicked header fr a corner, but soon aft City wasted a glorious chance 2 restore their 2 goal advantage.

Having been put clean thru by Toure, Silva danced around Green & squared 2 Balotelli, who had the goal @ his mercy but saw his effort blocked on the line by James Tomkins.

Hammers boss Avram Grant then refreshed his 4ward line by replacing Keane with Carlton Cole.

Opposite number Roberto Mancini did likewise by bringing on Edin Dzeko in place of Gareth Barry & City had another good chance moments later, only 4 Silva 2 opt 2 pass when he might hv shot.

Grant threw on Victor Obinna 4 Luis Boa Morte b4 Ba struck wide, but back came City, Dzeko unleashing an attempt tat bounced off Green.

The goalkeeper then tipped a deflected Silva shot over the bar b4 Balotelli was taken off 4 Patrick Vieira.

Silva & Dzeko had further late attempts but City had done enough as referee Howard Webb confirmed their victory @ the final whistle.

After the match, ManC boss Roberto Mancini admitted his players may hv been guilty of thinking their job was done aft they took an early 2 goal lead.

It eventually turned out that they had done enough, but it could hv been more comfortable & the Italian acknowledged as much afterwards.

"At tis moment, @ the end of the season, every game is difficult & if you play against a team tat is trying 2 avoid relegation, it is very, very hard," Mancini said.

"I think we started the game very well, playing fantastic football & scoring 2 goals.

"Probably aft these 2 goals we thought it was finished, but it never is until the referee blows the final whistle."

The result means 4th-placed City r 7 points clear of Liverpool - who hv played a game more - & Tottenham in the race 4 the final Champions League berth.

Mancini feels his team deserve 2 be where they r but 1s 2 see no let-up fr them until the season has come 2 an end.

"We can only relax aft May 22, not b4," said Mancini, who also confirmed tat De Jong had come off @ half-time merely as a precaution with a view 2 next weekend's clash with Everton.

"We should try 2 get the maximum number of points tat we can.

"Everything is in our hands becos 4 all the season we hv stayed @ the top betw 1st & 4th position.

"I think aft wat we hv done, we deserve 2 be in the Champions League, but we hv another 4 games - it is not finished.

"We r not under pressure, but we know we hv a big chance.

"Our target @ the start of the season was the Champions League & now, we r in a good way.

"We r in 4th position & hv 7 points over Tottenham & Liverpool, & we will play the FA Cup final (against Stoke on May 14). I think we hv done a good job up 2 now."

Although the loss was West Ham's 5th in a row & they remain bottom of the table & 3 points fr safety their manager Avram Grant is staying upbeat.

"We made a very bad start - in the 1st 20 minutes we were not in the game, they had scored 2 goals & could hv scored more," Grant said.

"We had a great comeback & showed a lot of spirit & the character of the team, & we made it 2-1 - also Robbie Keane had a big chance.

"In the 2nd half we could hv done some more, so there was a lot of positives 2 take 4 the next games, which r the most important ones."

The Hammers play Blackburn, Wigan & Sunderland in their final 3 games & Grant has set a target of @ least 7 points fr those fixtures 2 beat the drop.

"Now we play against a team tat r in our area (Blackburn), so we hv 2 win tis game," Grant said.

"I thought tat other teams would take more points in the last 2 games, so the gap stays 3 points.

"Our target is 2 take 7 points - & we will try 2 take all 9 - but we r playing against teams tat also 1 the points.

"But we believe if we use the character we hv shown in past games away against top teams, we can win games."

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...llenge?cc=4716

Johnson disappointed by City chase

ManC midfielder Adam Johnson admits tat he is very disappointed, aft the club's incredible spending, tat his side hv not sustained a more serious bid 4 the Premier League title.

Johnson will play a part in City's run-in tat sees them needing just 1 win fr their remaining 4 games 2 secure a place in next season's Champions League, while they can also pick up their 1st trophy for 35 years when they face Stoke in the FA Cup final on May 28.

But, aft City owner Sheikh Mansour spent more than £250 million in the transfer market, Johnson thinks tat the club should hv done better tis season.

"I'm disappointed tat we r not in there. Personally, I think we should be & a lot of neutral people think we should be with the squad we hv. But there was a couple of iffy results which we should hv won,'' he said.

"At the start of the season we wanted 2 be top 2 & having been in the top 4 all season we 1 2 keep pushing.

''We might yet finish even higher than 4th. We've just got to keep going. But tat result @ Liverpool didn't mean we thought Spurs could catch us. We knew we still had a few points on them & we've pushed tat gap 2 7, which is massive 4 us."

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...itted-?cc=4716

Kompany committed "long-term" to City

ManC defender Vincent Kompany 1s 2 stay @ the club 4 the rest of his career so he can remain part of the "beautiful story" unfolding @ Eastlands.

Originally signed fr Hamburg in 2008 by Mark Hughes as a midfielder who could also play in defence, Kompany has become 1 of the best centre backs in the Premier League, earning himself a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

The 25-year-old, who often captains City when Carlos Tevez is unavailable, has also been 1 of the inspirations behind City's charge 2 the FA Cup final & 2 the brink of securing a much coveted Champions League berth via a top-4 finish in the league.

"I hv made a lot of progress,'' Kompany said. "But I still hv a lot more 2 show & bring 2 tis club. I m definitely looking 4ward 2 the future & looking long-term.''

The unqualified support he receives fr the City faithful merely confirms his belief tat he is @ exactly the right place @ tis stage in his career.

"I hv never been embraced as well as I hv been here, by the fans & the country in general,'' he said. "I feel really comfortable here & I m proud 2 be a part of everything tat is happening.

"I take nothing 4 granted & work hard every day, becos I know when it happens, we should all consider ourselves lucky 2 be able 2 be part of such a beautiful story.''

Tat story will hv its next chapter once City hv cemented tat coveted top-4 spot. They will be celebrating on Saturday evening if a win @ Everton is followed by a Tottenham defeat 2 lowly Blackpool @ White Hart Lane.

More likely, it will take a result next Tuesday - & revenge - against the Spurs side tat defeated them @ Eastlands 2 take the same prize last term 2 ensure the battle does not go down 2 the final couple of matches.

"We r on course,'' Kompany said. "We hv gone a tremendous way since the takeover happened 3 years ago.

"It is a completely different club now & it would really be a great way 2 start the success story we 1 2 hv with City by achieving Champions League qualification & winning the FA Cup tis season. Tat is our target, & it becomes even more important than ever now.''