Italian tactician plays down midfielder's frustration
Roberto Mancini has laughed off suggestions he might leave Manchester City should he not secure the transfer targets he has earmarked.
Sky Sports understands (c) TM.com that Swansea's Scott Sinclair will join City on Tuesday for £6.2million, with Mancini having played down newspaper talk that he could walk if his transfer needs are not met.
"No. It is not true. If the newspaper sells a lot of copies, I am happy for the newspaper. I never said this and I never think this," the Italian said.
On the transfer news linking Sinclair with a move to City, Mancini said: "Maybe, I don't know. We can't say a name."
He also played down an apparent show of frustration from midfielder James Milner, who played out of position at wing-back during the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
"No - I think all the players played well but when you are down, you should try something different, but all the players played well," said the City boss.
Mancini was quick to praise once errant striker Carlos Tevez, who netted in the draw at Anfield with a strike that marked his 100th goal in English football.
He added: "Carlos is in good form at this moment. I am happy for him. It is important he continues to play like he did in these two games."
Carlos Tevez is a true Blue
Carlos Tevez scored his 100th goal in English football to earn City a vital point at Liverpool then declared: ‘I want to stay’.
Slimline Tevez capitalised on Martin Skrtel’s mistake to equalise 10 minutes from time after Skrtel and Luis Suarez had scored either side of Yaya Toure’s first goal of the season.
After spells with West Ham and United, it was the 100th time the 28-year-old had found the net in England after moving from Corinthians in 2006. And Tevez cleared the way for another 100 in a City shirt after revealing he wanted to extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium despite having two more years left to run.
He looked to be on his way out after falling out with Roberto Mancini during the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena last season.
In the aftermath, Mancini said he was ‘finished’ at the club before Tevez went AWOL back to Argentina.
But he made peace with Mancini and returned for the final 10 games, scoring four times, and ending the season with the title winners’ medal.
Lifting the Premier League trophy, he revealed, was the high point of a roller-coaster season. And with his future finally sorted out, he’s determined to add more silverware to his haul this season.
“I'd have no problem staying,” said Tevez, who revealed a t-shirt with Villa La Nata emblazoned on it after scoring, in honour of a little-known Argentine club.
“Last year was difficult for me. After I came back, I played and we were champions. That was the best bit of last season.
“I have two years on my contract and I could stay longer.”
Tevez claims the main reason he entertained the idea of move away from Manchester last season was as his wife, Vanesa, and his two daughters had struggled to settle in England.
He admits he’s still adjusting to life 7,000 miles away from his home. But with his immediate family now settled in Cheshire, Tevez insists life is good.
“My family is here, my children are here, I’m happy, my wife is happy,” said Tevez.
“I play all the time for my family, my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters in Argentina. It is difficult for me as they are in Argentina, but this is my job and I like football.”
Tevez has impressed since returning from his summer break fit and focused. He’s started the season in fine form and his goal at Anfield was his third in successive games.
His manager puts it down to an uninterrupted pre-season, his first since arriving in England five years’ ago.
Tevez, however, believes he has discovered a purple patch because he’s enjoying playing football again, something he would readily admit was missing last season.
The Argentinian also revealed he has slimmed down for the new season and says both he, and City, are reaping the rewards.
“The new season is good for me,” he said. “Seven kilos are out, so that's good for me and the club. A year ago, was the most difficult bit. Now is now.
“The problems of last season are finished. Now I’m happy, Roberto is happy and the club is happy. The problem is now finished.”MuEN
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says final days of transfer window to determine if champions retain title
Roberto Mancini believes the final five days of the transfer window will define the success or failure of Manchester City’s title defence.
Pointing the way: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insisted his side deserved their point at Anfield Photo: GETTY
Mancini says new faces are imminent — the first is expected to be Swansea's Scott Sinclair for £5 million — after he saw his team escape Anfield with a 2-2 draw.
The City manager has been pursuing new recruits all summer and after requiring two defensive mishaps to claim a point against Liverpool, the need for additions was exposed.
“We need to bring players in and we have five days in which to do it,” he said. “We have to work hard in these four or five days. It will be a long week for us. It will decide how we perform this season. We have our targets and we will go for them in the next five days. Sinclair? Maybe. We have five days.”
City have also been hunting a new centre-half, although Mancini pronounced a move for Liverpool’s Daniel Agger dead.
The Italian believed his side merited their point on Merseyside.
“We played very well in the first 30 minutes and you should score in those moments if you want to win a game at Liverpool. Games are always difficult at Anfield. Then we conceded a goal from their first corner and something changed. We didn’t deserve to lose, but it’s a good result.
“I thought the players played well. There are not many teams who come back here and push Liverpool into their half as we did.”
There was also praise for Carlos Tévez as he continued his prodigal son routine with a late equaliser.
“I’m very pleased with the form he is in at this moment,” said Mancini. “I am happy for him and it is important for us that he continues to play like he has in the last two or three games.”
Mancini’s words could not disguise the need for the title-holders to reinforce if they are to retain their crown. Sinclair is likely to be first arrival after he missed Swansea’s win over West Ham.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is resigned to losing Sinclair to the Etihad Stadium but hopes the winger will leave with dignity.
“There is a lot of interest in Scott. We know things can move fast in this game but we will wait until Monday to see where things stand,” he said. “We know it could go on until Friday evening.
“I always say it is easy to smile, shake hands for the picture when people arrive. But I think it is nice to shake hands when they leave and that doesn’t happen often in this world of football.”
OFFICIAL SITE [strike]TRAINING[/strike] BOLLOX
Could former Academy striker Daniel Sturridge be set to make a shock return to City?
The story comes from an unlikely source – The Kenyan Daily Post – but it’s worth noting that Roberto Mancini has stated previously he rates the Chelsea striker highly and the player has indicated privately he would love to return to City one day.
If, as it appears, the England forward is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, perhaps one of the shock transfers of the current window is not as far-fetched as it seems?
The KDP write: “Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, has joined Premier League Champions, Manchester City, in the race to secure the signature of unsettled Chelsea striker, Daniel Sturridge.
“The 22 year old has hitherto expressed his desire to quit the Stamford Bridge outfit after he complained of being played out of position and Chelsea’s new signings do not make his situation any better.
“Mancini is known to be a huge admirer of the diminutive striker and has previously spoken of his disappointment that the forward was sold to Chelsea shortly before he took over as City manager.”
Meanwhile, another media outlet most Blues wouldn’t usually seek for information (at least as a first port of call), The Thurrock Gazette, quotes Adam Johnson who yesterday sealed a move to boyhood idols Sunderland.
A popular winger during his time with the Blues, AJ admits he left in search of regular first-team football – something he couldn’t be guaranteed at City.
The Gazette writes: “Johnson cited manager Martin O'Neill as a major factor in his return to the north east after completing his move from Manchester City to Sunderland on Friday night.
“The former Middlesbrough winger signed a four-year contract after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee. He told Sunderland's website: ‘It's great to have signed and it's a fresh start.’
“He went on: ‘Coming back to the north east and Martin O'Neill were the two main factors, especially the gaffer and listening to what he had to say to me. He made it clear just how much he wanted me to come here. To know that and feel wanted and appreciated made me feel that it was the right choice to sign.’”
Chinners wrote:Meanwhile in the Olympic opening night's ceremony ...
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[strike]<EDIT> oOOPs ... sorry, wrong thread/board .... site .... <Ahem>[/strike]
OTHER BOLLOX
BRENDAN RODGERS REJECTED CHANCE AS NO.2 TO ROBERTO MANCINI
BRENDAN RODGERS has lifted the lid on just how close he came to being Roberto Mancini’s right-hand man.
Rodgers had been out of work for six months after leaving Reading by mutual consent, his management dream shattered after working his socks off to get to the top.
But then came the call from City at his lowest point – and a couple of days in the light blues’ company was to change his life forever and eventually send him on the road to Anfield.
Rodgers spent valuable time in the City camp before flying to Milan to meet boss Mancini for informal talks.
He finally opted, though, to become boss at Swansea two years ago – but acknowledges today just what a confidence booster being a temporary Blue gave him.
And Rodgers, raised in Northern Ireland, is grateful for the greatest of insights into what makes Mancini, his staff and players tick at such a highly successful level.
Rodgers said: “I had just left Reading after a long career in coaching and all of a sudden I was on the outside looking in.
“Then thankfully City gave me my confidence back by bringing me in. One or two things started to develop but I never got to the end point with them and obviously I went to Swansea.
“But I had been out of the game for six months and then I got the call that there was a possibility about going to City. I went up to have a couple of days looking around.
“Then I flew to Milan to meet Roberto. It was obviously really exciting what was happening there. For me, I didn’t think I was maybe going to get a manager’s job.
“So the next best thing to managing was at least working with top players. If that opportunity was going to come up, then brilliant.
“But then as it happens, you get nothing for six months and then all of a sudden I get the opportunity to go to Swansea. And to be number one was always going to be it, irrespective of money and whatever contract.”
So would he have benefited from some of those bucketloads of cash on offer from free-spending, Abu Dhabi-backed City?
Rodgers joked: “I would have preferred the wheelbarrow. I probably would have earned more at City but I had nothing in writing at the time.
“The chance to manage a great club like Swansea was too good to turn down.
“But I spoke to the City staff, to Brian Marwood and then Roberto.
“In that little period I gained a real insight of the club at first hand.
“It was good for my confidence and, anyway, at the time I was prepared to go and coach kids. Make a difference to people.”
It goes without saying the brilliant job he went on to complete at Swansea.
And now, although admitting that Liverpool are playing catch-up, he is determined to restore the club to the position of rulers once more at home and abroad.
Rodgers, who had spells as Reading youth coach and Chelsea reserves boss before cutting his managerial teeth at Watford and with the Royals, and then hitting the big time with Swansea, added: “There’s been a lot of trauma here in the last few years in relation to takeovers and everything. And a lot of instability.
“There’s only one team can win the league and everyone else is catching up. Manchester United are trying to catch up this year. The reality is where we are at. We want to improve and we want to move forward.
“It’s been a number of seasons now since we competed at Champions League level. For a club with this history and everything around it, it is where we have to be.
“We’re not there – and that’s the reality, too.
“So we need to fight like hell to try to get in there.
“I knew the size of the challenge. I knew I had limited funds. I haven’t come into this blind.
“I know the sheer size and expectancy here.
“That was part of the challenge to come, to test myself to the absolute maximum as a manager.
“And hopefully improve over a period of time then we can rise and push on.
“First, we need to ensure that Anfield is a real cauldron of a place.”
Rodgers, who has so far brought in striker Fabio Borini from Roma, Joe Allen from Swansea and Nuri Sahin on loan from Real Madrid, is excited by what lays ahead and added: “The idea is to make Anfield as difficult a place as possible for the opponent – and that starts against Manchester City.”
[strike]Torres is the new toast of Chelsea now he's the big cheese
Roberto Di Matteo has revealed how he persuaded Fernando Torres to stay and spearhead Chelsea's new-look team within hours of their Champions League triumph.
'I spoke to Fernando on the plane coming back from Munich and told him I thought he was part of the future of this club,' said Di Matteo.
‘The Premier League is different now, more Continental. It means foreign players can adapt quickly’
Chelsea’s eight PL goals this season, Hazard has scored one, won two penalties (converted by Lampard) and has provided four final-pass assists.
Torres was perhaps not in the best of moods. He had been stuck on the bench until the 84th minute of the final against Bayern Munich and had been an unused substitute in the FA Cup final.
'I am not happy,' the £50million striker had grumbled as he emerged from the Allianz Area. 'The worst moments of my career have come during this season and I am not willing to relive them.
'The ideal for me next season is for someone to tell me what's going to happen. What role will I have in the team? What function? What is expected of me? Then I will have to evaluate if it's worth it.'
Di Matteo soon soothed those fears and told Torres what he wanted to hear.
The departure of Didier Drogba eased the pressure, as did Roman Abramovich's decision not to splash out on another recognised centre forward.
They retain an active interest in Bayer Leverkusen's versatile winger Andre Schurrle but Torres's place is under no threat and he is repaying that faith.
His performance in Saturday's 2-0 win against Newcastle was perhaps his finest since arriving from Liverpool 18 months ago. He won the penalty for Eden Hazard to open the scoring and linked up beautifully with the Belgian to notch his second goal of the Barclays Premier League campaign.
'He has certainly come back in good shape, full of confidence,' said Di Matteo. 'I was always very happy with Fernando. Towards the back end of last season he was fantastic. Maybe not scoring but being a provider and even when that didn't happen he worked very hard for the team. He's a great team player.'
If anything, Chelsea suddenly seem too reliant on Torres. If he is injured or suspended, they have Daniel Sturridge or a selection of wingers to play at centre forward. The responsibility is certainly bringing the best from the 28-year-old Spaniard and he is happier with the team's extra pace and creativity, much of which has been injected by £32m new boy Hazard.
'The confidence is back because I'm playing more,' said Torres. 'And with the new players, the team is attacking more. Daily Mail SportsNo1nameless c*nt reporter.' '[/strike]
Tottenham Hotspur's old failings haunt new manager André Villas-Boas
Poor start for Spurs is compounded by player uncertainty
So Tottenham Hotspur's season can now begin. By the time they play Norwich City on Saturday, the transfer window will have closed, their squad will be complete and all the muttering and manoeuvring in the background will have ceased. The trouble is they will not be able to recover the two games that have slipped away. Again.
It was difficult to ignore the ghosts of the recent past at White Hart Lane, and not only because of Benoît Assou-Ekotto's gloriously off-message answer to the question of whether Harry Redknapp's sacking in June had been a surprise. "Yeah, I was very surprised," the Tottenham left-back said. "Very surprised because I don't think there are a lot of managers who finished fourth and they are sacked so … I was surprised, yeah."
André Villas-Boas has replaced Redknapp but the similarities to the beginning of last season are plentiful. Luka Modric wants a transfer and he is in no frame of mind to play; uncertainty clings to the future of other players; the club's incoming business is unresolved. Under Redknapp last season, Tottenham lost their opening Premier League fixtures to Manchester United and City and, following the latter, he bemoaned "a feeling round the place … for me, it's not been right".
The mood has been more upbeat under Villas-Boas and, as he pointed out, the team have one more point than last season, even if this draw against an upwardly mobile West Bromwich Albion represented a disappointment after the defeat at Newcastle United last Saturday. Albion were full value for James Morrison's injury-time equaliser that cancelled out Assou-Ekotto's 25-yard deflected drive.
Tottenham's slick and incisive moves in the first half only lacked a cutting edge in front of goal but the overriding impression was that something was missing. The crowd sensed it; for the opening home game of the season, the atmosphere was surprisingly flat for periods. It was West Brom who finished with the bit between their teeth. They were rampant for the last 10 minutes or so, with Tottenham clinging on desperately before they were breached by Morrison's nonchalant side-foot.
Tottenham anticipate a busy week leading to Friday night's transfer deadline and, given their propensity to leave things late, there is no guarantee that any new signings will be cleared to face Norwich. The striker Emmanuel Adebayor, a substitute against West Brom after signing on Tuesday, should be closer to match fitness.
Modric's composure was missed and Villas-Boas said that the midfielder's transfer to Real Madrid was "just a question of time". It feels as though the deal will be announced when Tottenham have secured a replacement.
Villas-Boas might reflect that he needs time and there was no sense of alarm at the club's poor start.
"Look at how we started last season and we ended up finishing fourth," Assou-Ekotto said. "I am not worrying at the moment. We haven't changed much from last season and maybe we will have one or two new players. We are a good team and I will not think that we can't finish fourth."
Steve Clarke was determined to manage expectations after the dream start to his managerial career at West Brom. Getting to 40 points, the accepted survival cut-off, remained the priority, he said. He was also determined to avoid building up Romelu Lukaku, the on-loan Chelsea striker, whose impact at White Hart Lane as a 63rd-minute substitute was immense. Lukaku had been a goalscoring substitute in the opening day home win against Liverpool.
Clarke missed the injured Peter Odemwingie at Tottenham but Lukaku's power and menace has given him a selection teaser. "I think he will kill me if I use him as an impact sub," Clarke said, with a smile.
Clarke has found the job all-consuming. The golf and his love of fly-fishing have gone by the wayside. "Two games in, and I can say I'm enjoying it," he said. "But I am realistic enough to know that there can be many different Saturdays."
Man of the match Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion). Guardian
Manchester United and Everton are both interested in signing Leicester's 19-year-old defender Liam Moore, who has made just five appearances for the club. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are planning to spend £50m on players before the transfer window shuts on Friday. Their six main targets include midfielders Joao Moutinho, 25, and Willian, 24. Metro
Everton are also hoping to sign Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, 28, although they face competition from Aston Villa. Daily Mirror
[strike]Wigan are planning a bid for 24-year-old Bolton winger Lee Chung-yong, who is valued at around £7m. Daily Mail SportsNo1nameless c*nt reporter.'[/strike]
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney needed a general anaesthetic as "shocked" doctors stitched up his thigh wound. Daily Mirror
Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song insists he wanted to stay at the club for life but, when trying to tie down a new deal, he was continually "fobbed off" - prompting him to leave for Barcelona. Metro
Swansea's excellent start to the season has caught the eye of Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas, who used Twitter to pay tribute to Michael Laudrup's side. Daily Mirror
MEDIA HUMOUROUS BLATENT COCK SUCKING OF THE DAY BOLLOX
[strike]Man United new boy Kagawa: I can't understand a word that Fergie says
He may be small and slight, but Shinji Kagawa insists his shoulders are broad enough to bear the responsibility in Manchester United's midfield.
The £12million summer signing has created a big stir among fans and here, he shares his early impressions of life in the Premier League...
So, Robin van Persie wasn't the only one to mark his home debut with a goal . . .
Kagawa: Mine wasn't exactly in the same bracket as his, but it felt great.
You couldn't miss, really, could you?
No, not from two yards out! That wasn't the sort of goal I usually score so I hope next time I will show the United fans what I can do from longer range. My game is not just about scoring, though. I like to create openings. I was really disappointed to see the flag go up after I was involved in the move that led to Rafael's offside 'goal'.
What differences have you noticed between here and the Bundesliga?
The physical side of it is the first thing. I need to adapt to that. The other thing is the quality through the division. In Germany, the top few teams were so much better than the rest, but, here, every opponent is difficult.
Do you feel you could influence games even more?
Yes. We seem to pass the ball sideways a lot, but I want team-mates to start giving me the ball from all areas and angles. I need to speak to them about this, because I want them to have the trust in me to play the ball forward.
Language is a problem, isn't it? How are you coping with Sir Alex Ferguson's team talks?
I can't tell a word he says! I am trying to learn English, but understanding the manager might take a little longer . . . Daily Mail SportsNo1nameless c*nt reporter[/strike]
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