Tuesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Mancini juggling title run-in with regular Italy trips to be at bedside of ill father
Manchester City have provided "fantastic support" for their manager, who has been strained by deteriorating health of his dad Aldo as the Premier League reaches its climax
Roberto Mancini has been juggling the demands of Manchester City’s title run-in with regular trips back to Italy to be at the bedside of his ill father, Goal.com has learned.
The health of Aldo Mancini is believed to have deteriorated in recent months after he had appeared to make a full recovery from a heart attack suffered in 2010.
Manchester City have given their consent for Mancini, the club’s manager, to travel back to his homeland on a frequent basis to care for his father.
Mancini has even made use of a private jet for some trips, including the two-day pilgrimage to a holy site at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegivina at the end of last month.
"City have given Roberto fantastic support and they have complete understanding of his situation," a source told Goal.com.
"In the last few weeks he has been backwards and forwards to Italy to be at the bedside of his father."
Mancini Snr, who is in his late 70s, has watched City play only once since his son took over at Etihad Stadium in December 2009 – last September’s 1-1 home draw against Napoli in the Champions League. He also watched the club train at their Carrington headquarters the day before that match.
The City manager dashed back from the club’s tour of the United States in the summer of 2010 after his father first suffered a heart attack.
Most of City’s players are believed to be unaware of the strain on Mancini, although his assistants David Platt and Brian Kidd and tight-knit Italian backroom team of Attilio Lombardo, Fausto Salsano and Ivan Carminati have been well briefed on their boss’s plight.
"Roberto is trying to be a father to Mario Balotelli and at the same time be a son to his own father," the source added.
"It is all quite a strain on him and a remarkable testimony of his professionalism and desire to win the title that he is handling it so well and even continuing to go on scouting missions for new players.
"It also explains his reluctance to get involved in mind games with [Sir Alex] Ferguson. He is simply too exhausted."
Mancini’s wife Federica has also made frequent trips back to Italy to be at the bedside of her father-in-law and has been away from the couple’s home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire

CARLOS TEVEZ HAS GOT BLUE BOTTLE
MANCHESTER CITY rebel Carlos Tevez has warned former club ­Manchester United that the battle for the Premier League title will be a fight to the death.
The Argentine hit a hat-trick in City’s 6-1 demolition of Norwich on Saturday to keep the Blues five points behind United in the title race.
The Manchester clubs clash at the Etihad Stadium on April 30.
Now Tevez, missing for six months of the season after a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini, says City can overhaul Sir Alex Ferguson’s champions in the last four games of the season.
He said: “We’ll be fighting until it’s mathematically impossible to be champions. Now they have to come to play at City, which will be difficult for them.
“We are determined to win our games and put pressure on them. There is no way we will give up the fight.”

Meanwhile, AC Milan want City ­bad boy Mario Balotelli in a cut-price deal of around £12m.
Balotelli’s future in Manchester is bleak following a string of problems on and off the pitch. Boss Mancini has run out of patience with the ­Italian ­striker, the final straw coming last week when the 21-year-old was sent off in the 1-0 defeat at ­Arsenal.
Balotelli’s attitude has caused uproar in the City dressing room and Mancini knows he must sell the player.
Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri is a big fan of Balotelli’s and reckons a return to Milan would help him fulfil his potential.
But the Serie A giants want him on the cheap and have told City to forget about recouping more than half of the £24m they shelled out to sign him from Inter Milan in 2010.

OTHER BOLLOX
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew travelled to the Netherlands over the weekend to watch in-demand Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen. The Belgium international, 24, has also been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City. Daily Telegraph

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill is ­planning a swoop for Wolves striker Steven Fletcher, who is set to move on if the Molineux club are relegated. The Scotland striker cost £7m from Burnley in 2010. Daily Mirror

Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, 25, has been targeted by QPR boss Mark Hughes in a £4m summer move - should the Hoops stay up and the Midlands club are relegated. Daily Star

The agent of Manchester United defender Fabio da Silva has confirmed the Brazilian is set to move to Portuguese side Benfica on loan. Daily Telegraph

Swansea's on-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson says he would "love" to stay at the Liberty Stadium next season - but repeated his future is not in his own hands. The Iceland international has scored seven goals since arriving from German side Hoffenheim in January. South Wales Evening Post

Inter Milan want to sign Arsenal target Yann M'Vila as they prepare to lure Laurent Blanc into becoming their new manager this summer. The Rennes midfielder, 21, is expected to play a key role for Blanc's France side at Euro 2012, but Arsenal remain favourites to sign M'Vila, whom they tried to buy last summer. Metro

Colombian striker Jackson Martinez claims he is attracting interest from both Liverpool and Porto. The 25-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in 31 league appearances this season, plays for Mexican side Jaguares but has been tipped to make a move to Europe this summer. talkSHIT

Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller is expected to leave the club on a free transfer this summer after growing frustrated at his lack of first-team action. Wigan, plus Championship sides Cardiff and Ipswich, are all interested. Daily Mirror

Reading are eyeing a £2m move for Sunderland's former England international Kieran Richardson. Daily Mail

Roberto di Matteo has been interviewed by Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo about the possibility of becoming the Blues' next permanent manager. Daily Express

Chelsea have suffered a blow ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona with confirmation that defender David Luiz will miss the match with a hamstring strain. the Times

Barcelona defender Dani Alves says fear - not referee - stopped Chelsea earning a place in the 2009 Champions League final. The Blues felt Tom Henning Ovrebo denied them several penalties before Andres Iniesta's late goal sent Barca through. the Independent

Tottenham plan to move for Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers if the Football Association makes an approach to Harry Redknapp to become England manager. the Sun

Spurs midfielder Scott Parker says the club will have "failed" if they don't make fourth in the Premier League - after they were beaten in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. the Guardian

Blackburn will hold talks with defender Gael Givet this week to determine if he can play for the club again. Givet was withdrawn from Saturday's game at Swansea after being named in the starting line-up, with sources close to the player insisting it was because of a row with manager Steve Kean at the team hotel. Daily Mail

Bolton legend Gudni Bergsson has told the current squad not to panic as they enter the closing weeks of the season hoping to avoid relegation. Bolton News

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll says he laughs off suggestions he is a hard-drinking wild man, insisting he has swapped night outs for sitting in watching movies with his girlfriend. the Sun

[trout man]

I do think that the unfortunate position Roberto's father is in due to ill health, has had a serious impact on his ability to manage the team to its full potential. Any of us who understand what it is like to have a gravely ill parent will know what a toll it takes on your emotional strength and at times your ability to do your job. I hope purely for Roberto and his family that his father recovers.

[Dronny]

Perhaps some folks might cut Bobby some slack, or perhaps not?

[Sideshow Bob]

Meanwhile, AC Milan want City ­bad boy Mario Balotelli in a cut-price deal of around £12m.
Balotelli’s future in Manchester is bleak following a string of problems on and off the pitch. Boss Mancini has run out of patience with the ­Italian ­striker, the final straw coming last week when the 21-year-old was sent off in the 1-0 defeat at ­Arsenal.
Balotelli’s attitude has caused uproar in the City dressing room and Mancini knows he must sell the player.
Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri is a big fan of Balotelli’s and reckons a return to Milan would help him fulfil his potential.
But the Serie A giants want him on the cheap and have told City to forget about recouping more than half of the £24m they shelled out to sign him from Inter Milan in 2010.

yes, ok. we'll do that.