Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini saw his side crash out of the Carling Cup to Liverpool and pointed the finger at referee Phil Dowd for his side's failure to reach Wembley.
A 2-2 draw in the second leg at Anfield saw City fall to a 3-2 defeat, but the Italian felt the contest hinged on two penalty decisions that did not go his side's way.
First Mancini felt Dowd should have awarded a penalty for Charlie Adam's tackle on Edin Dzeko when the game was still goalless and then the official awarded Liverpool a spot kick when Daniel Agger's shot struck Micah Richards on the arm after flying off his leg.
"We did a good performance, scored two goals," Mancini said. "I think it was not a penalty for Liverpool and was for us. This changed the game,'' the Italian said. "He (Richards) touched the ball on his leg, for this reason it was not a penalty."
When asked why his players did not vociferously appeal for a foul on Dzeko, Mancini added: "There is a referee on the pitch. It is enough. It was a penalty, incredible, clear. We did well, scored, we did some mistakes and conceded a stupid goal. We can do nothing."
Balotelli insists 'I did not stamp on Parker'
Manchester City's Mario Balotelli last night said, "I am not a villain or a violent player", after accepting a four-match ban which will keep him out of his club's push for the Premier League title until late next month.
"I have accepted the ban because I couldn't prove my innocence," Balotelli said. "But I'm not a villain or violent." The 21-year-old said his apparent stamp in last Sunday's Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur, which left Scott Parker with a cut to his face, was unintentional. "I didn't try to [place my] heel [on] Parker," Balotelli added.
City's decision to forego an appeal was based on the conclusion that there was next to no chance of success, given that Vincent Kompany did not appeal in a less clear-cut case after his red card against Manchester United this month. Though this meant that the striker was unavailable for the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, he will miss Premier League fixtures that City will consider winnable – Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa – before being available for City's challenging return to European competition, in the Europa League against Porto, who are undefeated in Portugal's Primeira Liga.
Balotelli's suspension has deepened his despondency about aspects of the English game and further highlighted a susceptible temperament which players may seek to exploit. His future beyond the end of the season is in some doubt, though privately Roberto Mancini is convinced that the player's loyalty to him will enable him to overcome his latest setback in the Premier League.
Mancini's desire to be rid of Carlos Tevez – having said last Friday that it was "impossible" to offer him another game for City – appeared to hinge last night on Milan making an offer to the club's satisfaction, after Internazionale yesterday said they were no longer interested.
Internazionale board member Marco Tronchetti Provera said: "Now we're no longer interested in Tevez. He is following a different path. Inter have recovered their champions and there is no need to have him or another, even if Tevez remains a champion."
Though an attempt to re-engineer last summer's putative move to Argentina's Boca Juniors cannot be ruled out, the options are running out for Tevez. Some hopes are retained that Milan may return to the table yet despite personal terms having been agreed between the club, Tevez and his agent Kia Joorabchian, there has been no indication that the club are willing to improve on the loan offer which is not to City's satisfaction. The prospects of talks resuming will not have been improved by City's criticism of Milan, whom they advised on Tuesday to "stop congratulating one another and begin to look on how they would meet our terms".
City are resigned to the fact that they will secure only about £25m for Tevez and while they are prepared to see him spending the rest of the season at San Siro on loan with a guarantee of a permanent transfer to Milan, chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak would still demand £25m as an absolute minimum. The only club who covet Tevez and also have the resources to pay his wages are the Qatari-backed Paris St-Germain, though talks between the club and Joorabchian foundered after fewer than four hours on Friday. Independent
Carlos Tevez starts to fear for his (footballing) life
As £25m proves too much for Inter and PSG, will the stroppy striker ever escape Man City?
BY Bill Mann LAST UPDATED AT 06:58 ON Thu 26 Jan 2012
IT'S NOT ONLY Kim Dotcom who appears to be going nowhere in the near future. Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez also seems to be staying put after Inter Milan followed Paris Saint Germain and declared themselves uninterested in giving the awkward Argentine a fresh start.
On a message posted on the club's official website, Inter director Marco Tronchetti Provera said: "Does Tevez still interest us? He no longer does as he is looking to take a different path. Inter have rediscovered their champions and we don't need to have him or anybody else."
The news comes just a week after Inter were reported to have made City an unsuccessful offer of £20.7m for the striker. The Sky Blues are said to want £25m for the stroppy South American who last laced his boots in anger back in September. That figure is too much for Inter and PSG, and it remains to be seen if AC Milan are prepared to take a punt on such a prima donna.
As for Tevez, The Sun says that the 27-year-old fears for his future as City take their revenge for his refusing to warm up during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. A close friend of the Argentine, Carlos Jimenez, told the paper: "Carlitos and I had dinner a few days ago. I could see he was worried. He says City want to stop him playing for two years as a punishment. He knows he must get out of Manchester by January 31."
City may sue Tevez over plummeting pricetag
Manchester City are considering suing Carlos Tevez for compensation after a plunge in his transfer value.
City want £25million for their former captain, whose decision to remain in his native Argentina since early November has cost the striker £9.3m in wages, fines and lost bonuses.
Tevez has not been paid by City since the end of November and senior figures at the club have not ruled out legal proceedings against the 27-year-old, who is effectively on strike.
City were offered £37m for the Argentine by his former club Corinthians last summer only for the deal to collapse over finances.
Milan have offered £20m, but City are adamant they will not enter any negotiations until their asking price is reached.
The City hierarchy are giving serious consideration to a civil case against Tevez to recoup the anticipated £13m loss on last summer’s valuation. Mirror
Manchester City are keen on appointing former Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain and vice-president Ferran Soriano. http://www.insidefutbol.com/2012/01/25/ ... les/56919/
Adriano Galliani: AC Milan will decide between Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Catania's Maxi Lopez on Friday
The Rossoneri chief was enigmatic about the club's plan to reinforce the squad and admitted that either striker, or even both, could join the Milanese side at the end of the week
AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has declared the club will decide whether to sign Manchester City's Carlos Tevez or Catania's Maxi Lopez on Friday.
The Serie A champions have reached an agreement with Catania for Lopez, but they will only sign the former Barcelona striker if they fail in their efforts for Tevez.
Despite Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak declaring he is unimpressed over the manner in which Milan have conducted negotiations for Tevez, Galliani is hopeful that a deal for the currently AWOL hitman is still possible.
"If Maxi Lopez can join as well? Who knows?," said Galliani before a dinner meeting with the Catania player and his agent.
"I will just repeat that if he does not arrive, we will sign Tevez, but they are two alternative options.
"We will make a decision on Friday."
However, after the meeting, in which Milan director Ariedo Braida also took part, Galliani ruled out the possibility of signing the two players.
"On Friday we will choose either Lopez or Tevez," he said. "Maxi has been very nice, but we will see.
"Either he stays at Catania or he comes to us."
Mark Hughes is also hoping to persuade Nedum Onuoha to move to Loftus Road after agreeing a £2.5m fee with Manchester City for the 25-year-old defender. Daily Mirror
Graham Poll: Dowd got Richards penalty decision wrong on two fronts
Phil Dowd made two errors in awarding Liverpool a penalty after the ball hit Micah Richards’ arm.
Firstly, with Richards two yards away from the ball as it was struck and his arms in a natural position, the handball had to be accidental. On top of that, the ball hit his arm after being deflected off his foot.
Dowd’s second error was to mime what he thought he saw. He put both arms above his head to indicate what the City defender had done wrong.
When looking at replays, while one of Richards’ arms is above his head, it is not the one that the ball struck after deflecting, so Dowd’s perception — which he repeatedly made clear — did not match the fact.
A handball must be deliberate to be given as a foul. Referees are told to consider the proximity of the offender to the opponent striking the ball, the speed the ball is travelling, whether the arms are in a natural position and if the player had a chance of getting out of the way. You can see why City were so upset.dailymail
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Chelsea say Alex can go to Paris Saint-Germain but they will not pay the £83m asking price for Porto's 25-year-old striker Hulk. Full Daily Mail
However, the Blues expect to tie up the £8m signing of Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 20, from Genk, while upping their £16.7m offer for Shakhtar Donetsk's 23-year-old Brazil midfielder Willian. Daily Star
Willian is keen for the move to go through, saying: "They have a culture of winning trophies and that excites me." the Sun
Rangers have rejected a £7m bid from West Ham for their 26-year-old top scorer Nikica Jelavic. Daily Record
Villarreal have offered £6.5m for Tottenham midfielder Giovani dos Santos but face competition from Spanish rivals Granada for the 22-year-old Mexican. Daily Mail
QPR manager Mark Hughes is ready to bid £4m for Wigan's 26-year-old Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega. the Sun
Wigan Athletic have made an offer for £700,000-rated Dutch striker John Verhoek, 22, who is on loan at ADO Den Haag from Rennes. Daily Star
Wigan also stress that they have only made an "informal enquiry" about Bristol City's Nicky Maynard, 25, and not an official bid. Daily Express
Newcastle are chasing a loan deal for Juventus winger Elia after missing out on him last summer. Daily Mail
Everton, Blackburn, Sunderland and Swansea are all after Sporting Lisbon's Adrien Silva. talkShit
Manchester United and Liverpool are targeting Danish international defender Jores Okore, after FC Nordsjaelland admit that they will not stand in the 19-year-old's way if a bid does come. Inside Futbol
Israeli Premier League side MS Ashdod have confirmed that talks are taking place with Manchester City over a deal for 20-year-old midfielder Nir Biton after he impressed on trial. Metro
Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers may move for 30-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, with Barcelona ready to make the Belarusian a free agent. Metro
Manchester United are looking at Vasco da Gama's 23-year-old central defender Dede. CaughtOffside.com
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is plotting a £20m player plus cash bid for Tottenham's Rafael Van der Vaart in the summer. CaughtOffside.com
Winger Theo Walcott lines up talks with manager Arsene Wenger 'within weeks' to discuss long-term Arsenal future. Goal.com
Charlton vow to slap racist supporters with life-time bans after raids by police. Daily Mail
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants a ban on Premier League clubs loaning players aged over 21 to each other. Daily Mirror
It seems Manchester United striker Shrek has a new passion for music and is prepared to roll with it by purchasing a classic Oasis drum kit. Metro
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