to let senior stars Bridge, Adebayor and Santa Cruz leave in January
Roberto Mancini has defended his decision to allow three senior Manchester City stars to leave on loan in January when he has ended up so short of players.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz all departed Eastlands in the search of regular first-team action, along with three of the younger members of the City squad who were given first-team exposure in the Carling Cup earlier in the campaign.
But boss Mancini is now bemoaning a lack of bodies as a reason for some of his side's more stuttering performances in recent times, including their 2-0 first-leg defeat to Dynamo Kiev in last week's Europa League last-16 clash.
City try to overturn that deficit at Eastlands on Thursday, still using the same group of players they have been forced to rely on since fixture congestion first became a problem in the middle of January.
But Mancini is adamant he has not been the architect of his own downfall.
'If there are some players who want to leave because they wish to play every game, it is difficult,' he said.
'Should two or three players leave the club, you could buy two or three more.
'But we didn't think four or five important players would get injured in the space of 20 days.'
Shay Given, James Milner and Adam Johnson have all been sidelined for extended periods, with a succession of minor injuries to be taken into account as well.
In addition, Kolo Toure is suspended indefinitely pending an inquiry into his failed drugs test, robbing Mancini of another valuable option.
'When you become a top club you should have 25 players available in every game,' he said.
'If you watched the game between Manchester United and Arsenal in the FA Cup, United changed eight players.
'When you play every three days,(zzzz) you need to change five or six players, minimum.'
In fact, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson changed six. It could also be argued that if Mancini had made more use of his squad earlier in the season, when he kept using the same group of players, the disaffected ones might have been encouraged to remain in the fold.
In addition, FA Cup draws against lower league opposition in the form of Leicester and Notts County helped fill what should have been a spare couple of midweeks with replays.
City have been left to play seven midweek fixtures out of nine since the middle of January and one of the others was reserved for international matches.
Little wonder victory tomorrow could be regarded as something of a double-edged sword.
'If we win and reach the quarter-final, we are playing twice a week until the end of the season,' he observed. 'This could be a big problem.'
Not that Mancini is prepared to countenance defeat at this stage, even if a Kiev side marshalled by a resurgent Andriy Shevchenko look set up perfectly to hit their hosts on the counter-attack at Eastlands.
All the more reason to lament the absence of Johnson, who has started training after almost two months out with an ankle injury but will not be considered until after the international break.
'We do not have another player like Adam,' said Mancini.
'When he is on the pitch, he can change a game, just by the way he plays.'
The most obvious alternative is Shaun Wright-Phillips, although for much of the year he has been troubled by a back complaint that has restricted his availability.
'Shaun only worked for five days last week because his back was hurting,' revealed Mancini.
'Now I hope he can play and also change the games for us in the next two months.'
Man City boss hopeful Johnson will return for Chelsea showdown
Adam Johnson was sidelined in January with an ankle injury that was thought to keep the Manchester City and England Winger out for three months. However, Adam Johnson has recovered ahead of schedule and has been back in training.
Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini is hopeful Adam Johnson will be in contention to return in time to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Sunday. Roberto Mancini spoke at a press conference this afternoon ahead of Manchester City’s crunch Europa cup tie against Dynamo Kiev tomorrow.
“We were very unlucky the last three months, because we lost three or four important players for us and Adam is the only player that can change the game”. The Manchester City manager added, “We don’t have another player like him”.
Adam Johnson told Manchester City’s official club website “My ankle is almost there and I’m back in training, so I should be playing again soon, all being well”.
Bellamy Cleared of Improper Conduct
Cardiff City will have captain Craig Bellamy available after the attacker was cleared of improper conduct by an FAW panel on Wednesday. The Bluebirds were fined £5k for failing to control the players during a brawl in the dying moments of the 2-2 draw with Reading.
Mikele Leigertwood was previously found guilty of violent conduct (for a punch on Chopra), and the Royals were fined £40k.
Bellamy was also cited for the lesser charge of improper conduct, alledgedly for throwing a water bottle in the tunnel. However, the club and player prepared a robust defense and were able to avoid a ban or fine for the player.
Ancelotti reveals Torres strategy
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists the only reason Fernando Torres started on the bench against FC Copenhagen last night was to keep him fresh for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Manchester City.
The £50million striker has endured a frustrating time since joining the London club in January, failing to find the net in any of his six appearances so far.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka were chosen ahead of the Spaniard as Chelsea eked out a goalless draw that saw the side progress past Copenhagen 2-0 on aggregate and into the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, Ancelotti was keen to stress that Torres - like fellow substitutes Michael Essien and Florent Malouda - were only left out the starting line-up due to the importance of the upcoming match with City.
"The players not involved from the beginning tonight will play on Sunday," he said. "I wanted to maintain the players fresh and with good motivation.
"If we want to achieve something, we'll need all the players with good motivation."
Torres came off the bench midway through the second half to replace Anelka.
Ancelotti added: "The only reason (he didn't start) is that we will have these players - Essien, Malouda and Torres - fresh for City."
Chelsea fans will be hoping for a much-improved performance when the side travels to Eastlands, having seen their team fail to net with any of its 25 shots against the Danish champion.
Ramires and Anelka were rare shining lights in the tie, although Ancelotti insists no performances last night changed his mind about who to start this weekend.
"No, absolutely not," he responded when asked. "I'd already decided the selection to play against City.
"The atmosphere now is really good. After Copenhagen, everything was okay. The results were good, the performances... the injured players are coming back in good condition.
"Maybe on Friday we'll have all the squad training. This is important for us to do 100% of our possibilities.
"If all these players give 100%, we have a lot of chances of arriving in the final stages.
"To maintain this we have to try to win every game. We have to pay attention.
"Sunday will be very important for us, for City - a very difficult game for both teams. We have to be ready to try to win."
Last night's counterpart Stale Solbakken agrees with Ancelotti that Chelsea has what it takes to secure Champions League glory at Wembley - even if it means beating Barcelona.
Having led Copenhagen into clashes with Barca and Chelsea in this year's Champions League, Solbakken is in a unique position to judge both teams' qualities.
And, while admitting Barca has superior skill, the Norwegian believes Chelsea's physical qualities could work to its advantage.
"Barcelona, I think, are a little bit stronger at this moment," he said. "But Chelsea have that advantage of having that great physique in the team.
"They can out-power Barcelona in certain areas. That can be their advantage.
"They can compete at Camp Nou because they are strong, and they have strangled them here before, and were unlucky with [Andres] Iniesta's goal.
"If they can handle them in Camp Nou... they have a better chance than Arsenal because of the physique of the team."
WAG OF THE DAY
OTHER BOLLOX
Man Utd's Fani hits out at Jamie Carragher over tackle
It was feared Fani's season was over after the challenge by Jamie Carragher
Manchester United winger Fani has hit out at Liverpool's Jamie Carragher after his challenge on the Portuguese winger left him with a gashed leg.
Carragher was booked for the challenge in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Anfield and Fani said it was "not football."
"It is the second time he injured me. Before he put me out of the game for two months. He always tackles like that," he said.
"I don't know what he was thinking but I know what he did was not football." Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called the tackle "disgraceful" and estimated a three-week absence for the Portuguese midfielder. Fani, whose Old Trafford career has been blighted by a string of injuries, reacted furiously to the incident, jumping off the ground to complain to referee Phil Dowd despite having an open wound in his leg. The 24-year-old initially thought the challenge had ended his season.
However, he recovered quickly enough to play for United in their Champions League win over Marseille this week.
When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season was finished, that is why I was crying," he said. "Afterwards, the doctor saw my leg and said I had been lucky because it just needed stitches and I would be out for two or three weeks." Carragher attempted to apologise to Fani after the incident, but the Portuguese player was not interested. He said he knew he was a player that opponents liked to target, but insisted he was not pleading for special treatment from officials. "I don't want protection. I just want the referees to be fair," he said.
"If it is a red card, they have to give it. If they give the card, the next time the player doesn't make the tackle."
He also said he thought it was wrong that officials could not take retrospective action over incidents if they had seen them and dealt with them during matches. (Hmmm, does that include his team mates that assualt other players off the ball?)
David Moyes has said he is reluctant to sell midfielder Jack Rodwell and that Manchester United can forget about signing him cheaply. Daily Star
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will reportedly look to land Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema this summer as he looks to improve the club's attacking options. caughtoffside.com
Tottenham are set to renew their interest in Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam after conceding Niko Kranjcar is likely to leave White Hart Lane in the summer. metro.co.uk
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is lining up a double raid on Crystal Palace, with bids for highly-rated teenage striker Wilfried Zaha and midfielder Jon Williams. Daily Mirror
Alberto Aquilani looks set for a Liverpool return at the end of the season as Juventus appear reluctant to pay the 15m euros required to keep him permanently. The 26-year-old Italian midfielder has been on loan at Juve since the summer. caughtoffside.com
Barcelona are planning on hijacking Inter Milan's attempts to sign Tottenham's Gareth Bale in the summer by offering £40m for the flying winger. metro.co.uk
Celtic boss Neil Lennon is ready to sign Coventry's Republic of Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood in a bargain free transfer swoop. Westwood is out of contract in the summer and has refused to sign a new deal at Coventry. Daily Mirror
Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be "spitting mad" at his five-match touchline ban for comments about referee Martin Atkinson. The Sun
Fulham manager Mark Hughes has emerged as a contender for the Bayern Munich job when Louis van Gaal walks away from the club this summer. Hughes has links with the German side after playing there in the 1980s. Daily Mail
Former England captain Alan Shearer has said handing the England captaincy to John Terry will have a big effect on Rio Ferdinand and has questioned the way in which England boss Fabio Capello has announced the news. The Sun
Wayne Rooney has pledged his best years to Manchester United, and told their fans: "I'll be here until my 30s." The 25-year-old striker is incensed by talk that he could quit Old Trafford this summer despite signing his blockbusting five-year £250,000-a-week contract just four months ago. Daily Mirror
Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has warned his England team-mates that Spurs and Wales winger Gareth Bale is back to his "unstoppable" best ahead of next week's Euro 2012 qualifier in Cardiff. the Sun
Renowned fitness expert Raymond Verheijen, who is now Wales's assistant manager, has tweeted to claim that Manchester United's fitness staff have "messed up", given they have 11 players out injured. The Guardian
Arsenal's Theo Walcott is losing his fitness battle to play against West Brom on Saturday and also for England against Wales the following weekend. Daily Mirror
Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is in the running for the Coventry City job after former manager Aidy Boothroyd was sacked earlier this week. Daily Mail
Defender Thomas Vermaelen has admitted he does not know when he'll be fit to play for Arsenal again after revealing he has suffered six relapses with his Achilles injury. Vermaelen has not played since picking up the injury last September. metro.co.uk
Schalke 04 have sacked their coach Felix Magath despite the German club qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals. The Independent
Ex-Burnley boss Brian Laws is in line for a return to former club Scunthorpe as replacement for axed manager Ian Baraclough. Daily Mirror
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has claimed he almost signed Andy Carroll from Newcastle two seasons ago, when he was still in charge of Wigan. However, the Latics could not afford the £4.5m asking price. Daily Mail
And Black Cats midfielder Sulley Muntari says he wants to commit his long-term future to the club as long as his friend Asamoah Gyan keeps his mouth shut. the Sun
