Roberto Mancini believes it is vital Manchester City are going into Wednesday's derby clash with Manchester United having returned to form - and hopes their match-winner on Sunday Mario Balotelli might be available for the Eastlands encounter.Balotelli eased some of the pressure on his manager and fellow Italian Mancini by netting twice in the first half against West Brom at the Hawthorns as City secured a 2-0 victory to halt their run of three successive defeats. But the 20-year-old's afternoon turned sour after the break as he received a yellow card having clattered in to Marek Cech and was then given his marching orders within minutes following a tangle with Youssouf Mulumbu - who was also dismissed late on for scything down Carlos Tevez.
Rejecting suggestions Balotelli had kicked out at Mulumbu, Mancini said: "I absolutely do not agree with the referee about this sending-off."
Mancini intends to appeal against the decision by referee Lee Probert. That opens up the possibility of the striker being cleared in time to face second-placed United, who City, in fourth spot, are now once again only three points behind in the Barclays Premier League.
He added: "A red card for what? He played a fantastic game, he scored two goals, but the sending-off was very strange.
"I want to know why it was a direct red card. For me this is not correct and the referee must explain."
City were in second place behind leaders Chelsea before suffering a slump in results, and asked how significant he thought it was for his side to have got back to winning ways before the derby, Mancini said: "It is important because we are in a good position. We have this game (against United) and we can get to second position again."
West Brom have now picked up three red cards in the space of a week after they were reduced to nine men at Blackpool last Monday.
While Pablo Ibanez's was rescinded following an appeal, Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo had no complaints about the decision to send Gonzalo Jara off in that match and was similarly accepting that Mulumbu deserved to go against City - although he also felt there was nothing wrong with Balotelli's dismissal.
"I think the referee was in a good position on the (Balotelli) sending-off," Di Matteo said. "My player wasn't happy with the challenge and the official was there. In terms of the second one, for my player, I think there was no doubt about it."
Mock The Weekend
He scores two goals at the Hawthorns, he barely celebrates either. He gets sent off for a pointless dive and a petulant swipe, he doesn't visibly react either. Of course, it helps to be a 20-year-old that gets paid so much money it really doesn't matter how you perform (although not so much that he was prepared to throw away his £1.99 gloves in disgust). It also helps that the young Italian is pretty clearly off his rocker.
Mock The Weekend read more HERE
Who is Man City's best signing since Mancini took over????
* Yaya Touré
* Jerome Boateng
* David Silva
* Mario Barwuah Balotelli
* James Milner
* Aleksandar Kolarov
This summer saw changes aplenty at Eastlands as Roberto Mancini sought to stamp his own brand on the Manchester City squad, adding six players at considerable expense.
The Italian strengthened each department of the team as City attempt to hold their own among the Premier League's elite clubs and push for invaluable Champions League qualification.
Goal.com UK, in association with Castrol Football, wants to know which player you think has been City's best summer signing.
Click To Vote
More Players who could be leaving........
Mancini has already shown that he is not afraid to dump big-name players after he sent fans' favourite Craig Bellamy on loan to Cardiff City earlier in the season.
Shay Given, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips are all strongly believed to be on their way out of Eastlands.
Read the full story HERE
0 comments:
Post a Comment