Man City's Brian Marwood: Internationals killing league
BBC Sport Manchester City's top football administrator has warned that too much international football is in danger of "killing" the Premier League.
Brian Marwood said unreasonable demands are being made of players in England.
"You just have to look at the audience figures around the world to know that it [the Premier League] is a much-wanted product," he told BBC Sport.
"But we're in danger of killing that product if we're going to ask too much of our players."
City's chief football administration officer acknowledged that even though his club are in a privileged position because of their squad size, the "talent" at his and other sides could still be affected to the detriment of the league.
He said: "We're in a very fortunate position at Manchester City. We have a strong squad, a large squad, one that has fared very well in terms of injuries this year. And we've had the chance to rest players at certain moments.
"There are other clubs who haven't been able to enjoy that. You're always loading and putting strain on players and there will be a breaking point. There will be an inevitable breaking point.
"I respect and understand people's agendas. But I think the important thing through all this is that we're providing something that's quite unique and special to millions and millions of people through the talent that we have performing.
"And if we damage that talent - and we're in danger of doing that by asking too much of them - then it is a very serious concern."
Earlier this week, football's governing body Fifa stated it had made "major" progress towards a deal to cut the number of international fixtures.
But Marwood cited the recent Africa Cup of Nations as an example of how he believes international fixtures are in need of further reform.
"Just recently you had the Africa Cup of Nations, which is a bizarre situation where you're going to lose players through the season for up to five or six weeks," he said. "That's wrong. That's completely wrong.
"Somebody somewhere has got to try to bring all these parties together and start thinking seriously about what we're putting our players through."
Despite such concerns, Marwood has watched City's players engineer a two-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table and he was quick to acknowledge what winning the top-flight title would mean to the club - a feat they last managed in 1968.
"It would be a huge achievement [to win the Premier League]," he said.
"But it's not about what we do just this year, it's about what we do for the next five to 10 years."
Key to that progression will be the club's training and academy complex, which is being constructed on a large expanse of industrial wasteland close to Etihad Stadium.
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
•Fifa World Cup (every four years)
•European Championships (every four years)
•Fifa Confederations Cup (every four years)
•Copa América (every three-four years)
•Olympic Games (every four years)
•Africa Cup of Nations (every two years)
•Asian Cup (every four years)
•Concacaf Gold Cup (every two years)
He said: "We've had over 30 players that have come through the academy and go into our first team. But we need to keep moving it on.
"If we are to play in the Champions League on a regular basis we need to produce Champions League footballers.
"We've made enormous changes in developing young players and only time will tell if that policy will be successful."
The duty of care that the club owes to young players at their academy also weighs heavily on Marwood. Equally so, the responsibilities that players owe to the club.
"We need players to understand there are certain values and certain behaviours that they need to adhere to," he added.
"I think that we can begin to have an impact - all clubs, not just Man City - all clubs can begin to have an impact in that area if we can get to them much earlier.
"We can shape and mould them in a way that we believe that not only are we producing great footballers but we're also producing great people."
For now, Marwood is firmly fixed on helping City clinch the league title. As a player he won a championship medal with Arsenal in 1989 but feels matching the feat with City would rank higher as an achievement.
"I think that for me personally it would probably mean more for this to happen here," he said.
"Not that I didn't appreciate what came my way at Arsenal as a player. But I think this is different because there are so many areas that I have to consider and make sure they are operating effectively."
Arsenal famously won the league that year by beating title rivals Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in the final game of the season. But that's something Marwood is not keen to repeat.
"It came down to the last minute of the last game on the last day of the season," he said.
"Certainly for my own blood pressure and nerves it would be nice to think that if we were to win, it would be done much earlier than that."
Mario Balotelli: Carlos Tevez should be forgiven by fans
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has told the club's fans not to target Carlos Tevez with any abuse when the Argentinian forward returns to action.
Tevez has not played for City since boss Roberto Mancini accused him of refusing to warm up at Bayern Munich in September - but he has now apologised.
Balotelli said: "I think supporters have to be like they were before.
"If they make pressure on Carlos, they make pressure to all the team, so they should do nothing."
Tevez, 28, had become a firm favourite with the City faithful after helping the club win the FA Cup last season following a switch from rivals Manchester United.
But that soured with his apparent refusal to come off the bench at the Allianz Arena in Germany - and he then returned to his native Argentina without the club's permission.
Following a five-month stand-off, Tevez returned to the club in February and has reconciled his differences after apologising for his conduct.
He returned to action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston, then scored on his first public appearance for the reserves against Bolton.
Balotelli, speaking to former Oasis man Noel Gallagher for the BBC's Football Focus, said supporters should forgive him.
The 21-year-old said: "I think everyone can make a mistake. Carlos is part of the team. He's just a part of the team, so everybody loves him."
Manager Robert Mancini says he has already forgiven Tevez and is looking forward to the striker's return to first-team football.
Manchester City hoping for swift Vincent Kompany return
Manchester City hope captain Vincent Kompany will be fit within two weeks after he injured a calf during the 1-0 defeat at Sporting Lisbon.
The central defender limped off after just seven minutes of Thursday's Europa League last-16 first-leg tie at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He will miss Sunday's Premier League game at Swansea.
But manager Roberto Mancini said: "I hope he can recover in 10 days, two weeks maximum."
The Italian continued: "When you have a calf [injury], it can be a big problem. We will see how it is in another one or two days."
Use accessible player and disable flyout menusOn a more positive note for City, right-back Micah Richards, who was left out of the squad to rest a minor knock, is expected to play at the Liberty Stadium as they look to protect their two-point lead at the top of the table.
"I didn't take a risk with Micah because Pablo Zabaleta is injured. Micah will play on Sunday," said Mancini.
City will remain in Lisbon to train in a warmer climate for two days before travelling back ahead of Sunday's match in Wales.
Brazilian defender Xandao back-heeled the only goal five minutes into the second half in Portugal, leaving City needing to win at the Etihad Stadium on 15 March to reach the quarter-finals.
"It wasn't a surprise because anything can happen in football, but I don't think we deserved to lose," said Mancini.
"We didn't play very well. But we still have a big chance. I am not worried. We will go through in the Europa League and Sunday will be a different game."
Manchester City are unbeaten in 16 matches at home in Europe, a run that goes back to 14 August 2008, when they were beaten 1-0 by FC Midtjylland in the Uefa Cup
Mancini also dismissed suggestions that City underestimated Sporting, something opposite number Ricardo Sa Pinto suggested was a possibility before the game.
"I don't agree with this," said Mancini. "I think that every game is difficult and different. We try to play good football. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose."
Sa Pinto said: "I believe Sporting played the perfect game tonight. We did nothing by accident; everything went according to plan.
"It was the maximum performance from my players. We knew we had to be perfect to overcome Manchester City.
"But we also have a good squad and I do believe we can progress to the next stage of this competition, although it will be a
City set to add another Belgian to the ranks after agreeing deal to sign teen Bossaerts
Manchester City have agreed a deal for Anderlecht defender Mathias Bossaerts, 15.
Bossaerts will join fellow Belgian defenders Vincent Kompany and Dedryck Boyata at the Etihad Stadium.
Milan plot swoop for Tevez and Mascherano
AC Milan are plotting to reunite Carlos Tevez with Javier Mascherano at the San Siro this summer.
The Argentina stars have been club team-mates at Corinthians and West Ham – and both are unsettled now, Tevez at Manchester City and Mascherano at Barcelona.
Adriano Galliano, chief executive of the Serie A champions, was in London this week for the Arsenal-Milan game and is rumoured to have used his trip to find out if a summer move for Tevez was still on the cards.
Galliani wanted Tevez in January, but when Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi blocked Alexandre Pato’s departure from AC to Paris Saint-Germain, the transfer kitty vanished.
PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make another move for Pato in the summer.
Berlusconi is keen on signing Robin van Persie from Arsenal, but with the Dutchman likely to be hot property this summer, a deal for Tevez looks likelier.
The key is building a relationship with Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian, and has also shown an interest in Mascherano.
Midfielder Mascherano, 27, has failed to hold down a Barcelona place since leaving Liverpool is thought likely to consider a move at the end of the season.
Joorabchian was behind Tevez and Mascherano joining Corinthians in 2004 and West Ham two years later.
Cantona mocks Mario’s act
ERIC CANTONA has mocked Mario Balotelli and football's new wave of attention seekers. Manchester City star Balotelli has played on his bad boy image with the 'Why always me?' T-shirt, as well as sending a message of love to his fiancée.
But United legend Cantona says his own dramatic gestures, including the infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan, were spur-of-the-moment rather than pre-planned.
The Frenchman said: "I dreamt of being a footballer, of doing great things, of crying and laughing after a victory, of exploding with joy. It is about spontaneity.
"I never had anything on a T-shirt, never calculated anything. Every action is unique, every reaction unique."
Cantona, now working to revive the New York Cosmos, also claimed the USA would win the World Cup within two decades.
Speaking at the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona, he added: "With all the necessary coaches, in the next 20 years this country is going to win the World Cup."
<WAG>
OTHER BOLLOX
Lukas Podolski, 26, turned down a four-year deal worth £40m from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in favour of joining Arsenal this summer. Daily Express
However, the Gunners risk losing club captain Robin van Persie, 28, for nothing in 2013 as the club plan to refuse all offers for the player. the Telegraph
Liverpool are the latest club to show an interest in Brazil defender Dede. The Vasco da Gama centre-back, 23, has been watched by Manchester United. Daily Mail
Juventus are ready to rile Manchester United by making a move for FC Basel star Granit Xhaka, 19, who is wanted by the Old Trafford club. talkSHITE
Swansea will have to pay £6m to sign loan star Gylfi Sigurdsson, 22, on a permanent basis from German club Hoffenheim. Daily Mirror
Everton are hoping to bring former Tottenham and Barnsley midfielder Emil Hallfredsson, 29, back to England but face a battle for his signature. talkshite
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in signing 23-year-old Benfica midfielder Axel Witsel, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo. Inside Futbol
Tottenham are set to offer Harry Redknapp a new four-year deal and £50m in transfer funds in a bid to fend off any approach from the FA over the England manager's job. Daily Mail
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola will repel any attempt by Chelsea to lure him to Stamford Bridge, and plans to sign a new two-year contract in Spain. the Sun
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has told talkShite he's not sure if Lukas Podolski has what it takes to make it at Arsenal.
talkShit
David Beckham was involved in a sensational bust-up with Toronto fans on Wednesday night after he had a beer can thrown at him. Daily Mail
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has brushed off speculation linking Luis Suarez with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. the Sun
Any hope the England squad had of their Euro 2012 base in Krakow providing rest and relaxation has been shattered by news that Poland's tourism board are advertising the town as an excellent fan-base for the tournament. the Guardian
Newcastle chief Derek Llambias has admitted that the club's owner Mike Ashley still calls their home ground St James' Park - and says the fans should too. Daily Mirror
A former Portuguese Division Three player is suing the evangelical church which he claims cost him the chance to play for Manchester United. Metro
Belgian footballer Julien Lecomte was sent off for diving while lying on a stretcher before being taken to hospital. the Sun
The mancityfans.net football forum
The BEST FORUM in all the land and all the world
[/center]