Mancini must recognise brutal truth for Man City - Phil McNulty
When Roberto Mancini's rage against the slow death of Manchester City's Champions League aspirations finally fizzles out, it will be replaced by the recognition of a brutal truth.
Mancini was the flesh and blood embodiment of all the frustration this competition has brought City as he stalked on to the pitch carrying bitter disappointment and a burning sense of injustice at the end of the 2-2 draw with Ajax.
The result leaves the Premier League champions needing to win their final two games at home to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid and away to Borussia Dortmund, then a few other cards to fall favourably, to avoid a second successive departure at the group phase.
This combination of an imminent exit and a contentious finale led Mancini to boil over for the second time this week as Danish referee Peter Rasmussen and a television cameraman felt the full force of the Italian's fury.
Ajax's fans had urged "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" as they went into a two-goal lead - it became clear in those chaotic final scenes there were no takers of a sky blue persuasion.
Rasmussen was the target after Sergio Aguero's late strike was ruled out by a borderline offside decision while he did not award a penalty in the final seconds when Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn clutched a large piece of Mario Balotelli's shirt, although there was a touch of six of one and half-a-dozen of the other about it.
Mancini's jets had not cooled when a cameraman copped it for invading his personal space. It was a ragged end to a ragged night that summed up City's flawed Champions League campaign.
Mancini angrily confronted a cameraman after the final whistle. Picture: PA
Heads will soon clear - although Mancini may not have heard the last of his impromptu pitch invasion from Uefa - and when they do City and their manager must accept that they are to blame should they fail to reach the last 16. This campaign has not been a hard luck story - City have not been good enough.
Mancini announced that City's destiny will be to win the Champions League if they escape this perilous position and get out of the group. He perfected the art of dismissing his own team's chances during last season's triumphant title race - but this time he is likely to be right.
There is currently a strange atmosphere surrounding City and Mancini. It has manifested itself in a lack of belief in the Champions League and appears to have spread to the supporters, who were subdued until a second-half rally lifted spirits.
It was as if players and fans were in need of inspiration to make City feel as though they really belong in this competition. The spirit of Mancini's men should not be doubted, given the manner of Tuesday's comeback from two goals down to almost win, but a spark is missing.
City have struggled to get to grips with the Champions League, even with the added layer of confidence being champions should give them, while Mancini himself has never got a handle on it, either with Inter Milan or at Eastlands.
Hindsight is a wonderful gift but perhaps City did need an "A-List" signing such as an Eden Hazard or Javi Martinez to lift them to the extra level required in the Champions League, to make them feel collectively more at ease on this stage.
The sloppiness that handed Ajax captain Siem de Jong two early goals from corners is what Mancini should remember, not his feeling of ill fortune.
Among the usual debate about zonal marking, this was simply a case of Manchester City's defenders not doing the basics of defending and paying for it. If it had happened down the divisions in England, questions would have been asked, let alone at this rarified level.
Mancini has cut a pressurised figure this week, reacting angrily about links with other clubs on Monday then quick-marching on to the pitch in search of aggravation on Tuesday. It was not a pretty sight.
Of course the miracle may yet happen, but the truth will hurt City and it is this - two points from four games is a fair reflection on their performances and a dismal return on the investment their Abu Dhabi owners have made in this squad. One of those points, at home to Borussia Dortmund, was a gift from the gods as a last-gasp penalty rescued them after a superb display by goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Dortmund's draw with Real Madrid may have opened a door but City, in the Champions League at least, seem too timid to walk through it.
It takes time to grow into the Champions League let alone win it, and there will be pains along the way. Chelsea took until 2012 to finally win it, and Arsenal have been hammering away in the competition for years without lifting the trophy.
So to expect City, no matter how much was spent, to pitch up and instantly lay waste to Europe's elite was somewhat fanciful, especially given the groups they have been given. Where City have come from in such a short space of time should offer some context.
What could reasonably be expected is better than two points from four games, amid a sense that City are still not getting to grips with the requirements of the Champions League.
Before kick-off, young City fans brandished a banner emblazoned with the message "We Still Believe".
City will never have a bigger opportunity to prove they still believe than when Real Madrid come to Manchester later this month - but Mancini's anger may just have betrayed his own belief that their chance has come and gone.
Barcelona influence at City set to increase
Barcelona's former Spanish scout Bojan Krkic is being actively considered for a similar role at Manchester City by new sporting director Txiki Begiristain, as part of the Nou Camp revolution taking place at the club.
City's manager Roberto Mancini, who has surrounded himself with Italians in most parts of the football operation, has mocked the idea that the chief executive, Ferran Soriano, and newly appointed Begiristain – who both contributed to Barcelona's emergence as arguably the world's greatest club – are lining up Pep Guardiola for his job. But Begiristain is undertaking a detailed review of the footballing operation at the club and Krkic, the Serbian father of the 22-year-old striker who takes the same name, could be in place within the next two months.
Joan Patsy, the former journalist turned sports consultant who worked alongside Johan Cruyff when he managed Barcelona, could also arrive,further increasing the former Catalan contingent.
However, it is understood that the new Spanish hierarchy do not want to be seen to be presiding over a "Barcelonafication" of the Premier League champions. Indeed, since his appointment last month Begiristain is understood not to have spoken to Guardiola.
Also, Krkic Snr, a former Red Star Belgrade player, is no ally of Guardiola, under whose management Krkic Jr failed to prosper at the Nou Camp before the club sold him to Roma last year. He has since gone on loan to AC Milan.
The ideal scenario for the new sporting director would be Mancini putting this autumn's Champions League struggles behind him and continuing to lead the club's on-field progress.
Sources in Spain yesterday strongly rejected suggestions that Begiristain's arrival means that the Brazil forward Neymar will be signed by City at Mancini's request. Begiristain is said to want to complete his fact-finding work before pursuing a major new target.
There is a precedent for Soriano allowing the manager, rather than the sporting director, to have his way on transfers. In 2006, the Nou Camp manager Frank Rijkaard wanted to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen from Chelsea, while Begiristain wanted Diego Forlan, then at Villarreal. Gudjohnsen was signed for what was to be an unsuccessful three-year spell.
Manchester City were wrongly denied a goal and a penalty against Ajax, says Graeme Souness
Sky Sports' Graeme Souness says Roberto Mancini was right to feel aggrieved by the refereeing decisions that all-but ended Manchester City's Champions League ambitions this season.
Mancini was livid with the officials after a strike from Sergio Aguero was ruled out for offside and Mario Balotelli was denied a penalty during City' 2-2 draw with Ajax at the Etihad Stadium - a result that leaves them bottom of Group D and eight points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.
City still have a distant chance of making the knockout stages if they beat Real Madrid and Dortmund in their remaining two fixtures, but Souness said the officials had got both controversial decisions wrong, which had cost Mancini's men a crucial victory.
Of Aguero's disallowed goal, he said: "It was a great goal and I don't see it as being offside. It could have been the winner for them. It is a great finish because he is under a challenge as well. That for me was a perfectly good goal."
And on claims Balotelli was hauled down in the box, he said: "It looks a certain penalty. We were in doubt whether he gets a bit of a hand on it when it pops up but nevertheless he has been totally man-handled."
Souness' fellow Sky Sports pundit Glenn Hoddle added: "The official has a great view. He can see it clear as daylight and I think it was handball so you can let the ref off the hook a bit. I don't see the assistants making enough decisions when the bodies are like that."
When asked if City could beat Real Madrid and Dortmund to secure an unlikely place in the knock-out stages, Hoddle said: "No. In my opinion I don't think so, I really don't. There is something about them still in Europe. They don't have that belief and if they keep defending like that they certainly can't."
Despite City's grievances about the refereeing decisions, Souness stressed their defensive problems, which are ultimately responsible for City's struggles in the Champions League, were clear for all to see again on Tuesday night.
"It is not just in this competition but in the Premier League and everything else," Souness said. "Tonight the problem came from set pieces. Last year with Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany in the team they looked unbeatable and if anything came into the box one of them was getting their head to it.
"With (Matija) Nastasic in the team now they are looking susceptible to conceding things. I think Roberto (Mancini) needs to have a look at that. We see it and other managers will see it. They are a team still scratching for the performances they had last year and they are not there yet."
Fellow pundit Ray Wilkins stressed that City simply did not look comfortable with performing in the Champions League, something which is inexcusable given their experience.
"We are seeing at this level that City are not comfortable at all," Wilkins said. "(Siem) de Jong for Ajax, who scored both goals, had numerous shots on goal and Joe Hart performed a couple of great saves again. But he had the opportunity for 20 yards to have a whack.
"City are not comfortable. I asked the guys upstairs to put a few stats together: the City team that started tonight had 241 Champions League appearances and 386 caps between the team. So they should be comfortable at this level, but they don't appear to be so."
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[/spoiler]Conman ripped off Manchester City star and cancer patients led 'extravagant lifestyle'
A conman who stole £7 million from hundreds of investors including a Premier League footballer has been jailed.
David Bowerman, 35, used the proceeds of the scam to fund an extravagant lifestyle of exotic holidays and fast cars.
The "compulsive gambler" blew £80,000 on Carribean cruises, drove a £38,000 Audi and an £81,000 Aston Martin and enjoyed lavish casino trips, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
At the height of his offending, Bowerman's Facebook profile featured a picture of him lighting a cigar with a £50 note.
But his expensive tastes were funded by victims included two terminally ill cancer patients and his elderly mother.
Two hundred investors were taken in, including Manchester City and ex-England goalkeeper Richard Wright and the former chairman of non-league Chelmsford City Football Club.
Despite the scale of the scam the "charismatic" conman racked up huge debts and eventually handed himself into police.
Prosecutor Antony Swift said: "This case involves a number of frauds over a number of years in which he systematically and cynically defrauded, for the most part, family, friends and acquaintances out of large sums of money.
"He went back to the same people time and again to get as much as he could.
"Up until the point at which he handed himself into the police, the total sum involved was £7 million."
Bowerman had previously worked as a mortgage and investment adviser and used this background to convince victims they were investing in legitimate schemes.
His scams involved offering investors false returns by using funds from new investors to give the impression of a profit-making business. He also conducted a separate loan fraud.
Bowerman juggled the funds to reassure victims - on one occasion selling his Aston Martin to pay a false dividend.
The court heard that he became increasingly desperate to prop up his various schemes.
Mr Swift said Bowerman began targeting "people with large amounts of cash at their disposal" in an attempt to "keep his various balls in the air".
Wright, 35, who has also played for Ipswich, Everton and Arsenal, handed over £400,000.
Peter Stroud, 46, the former chairman of Chelmsford City, invested more than £1 million.
Bowerman stole £36,500 from a savings account belonging to his elderly mother, Cynthia.
"He had access to her account and was supposed to be looking after her," Mr Swift said.
He added: "The reason he was able to get away with it for so long was his personal relationship with many people and the trust that they placed in him.
"He told bare-faced lies and circulated completely bogus statements to show investors how their investments were growing."
While the prosecution said the total value of the fraudulent schemes was £7 million, Christopher Kett, mitigating, said the true figure was closer to £6.5 million.
He added that his client admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity, handed himself into police and felt genuine remorse.
Today Judge Charles Gratwicke jailed Bowerman for eight years after he admitted 32 counts of fraud and one of theft.Mr Kett said Bowerman was "thoroughly deluded" and believed gambling would turn everything round.
"He is aware of the loss - financial and emotional - that he has caused," he added.
Judge Gratwicke told Bowerman he acted in a "wicked, disgraceful and cynical manner, without any regard for the effects of your dishonesty".
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Liverpool midfielder and captain Steven Gerrard, 32, says he would still like to play for Jose Mourinho, and is quoted as referring to the Real Madrid boss as "the Special One". Sun
Striker Marouane Chamakh, 28, wants to return to Bordeaux from Arsenal because of limited first-team opportunities with the Gunners. Daily Mirror
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is wanted by Tottenham, who could sign the 29-year-old for a bargain £7m. Independent
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson must pay £36m if he is to sign 21-year-old Porto winger James Rodriguez. DSSC
Blackpool are refusing to meet Portsmouth's demands of £200,000 compensation for boss Michael Appleton to become the Seasiders' new manager - arguing that Pompey's financial problems should allow him to walk away for nothing. DSSC
Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is battling to save his job after crisis talks with Saints chairman Nicola Cortese. Daily Mirror
Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio and fellow Italian Gianluca Vialli, formerly manager at Chelsea and Watford, are top of the list of Southampton's targets to replace Adkins. DSSC
Meanwhile, Adkins will remain in charge for Saturday's home match against Swansea after persuading Cortese to give him more time to turn things around. Daily Star
Liverpool are preparing for a Premier League hearing to fight a charge of illegally approaching Clint Dempsey before the 29-year-old forward's move from Fulham to Tottenham. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, 31, is likely to have to wait for his 100th England cap because a hamstring injury may rule him out of next week's friendly in Sweden. Daily Express
A hamstring injury has ruined Celtic striker Gary Hooper's chances of a first England call-up for the Sweden game. The Football Association made contact with Celtic over the 24-year-old's availability but were told he would not be fit. Guardian
Former Tottenham captain Ledley King has backed Jan Vertonghen to given a run at the centre of Spurs' defence. The Belgian, 25, has played mainly at left-back since joining from Ajax. Daily Mirror
West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie, 31, is set to put country before club and play for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations in January. He could miss five Premier League matches. Times
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady is still hopeful of moving the Hammers to the new Olympic Stadium and says the club can create 1,000 jobs if they do so. The Guardian
Referee Mark Clattenburg will not be interviewed by FA officials investigating allegations that he racially abused John Mikel Obi until next week. Daily Telegraph
AC Milan have held talks with representatives of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola with a view to offering him the manager's job for next season. Gazzetta
Football could crack down on player dissent by reintroducing the rule where free kicks are advanced 10 yards if players from the offending side show dissent, according to Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie. Times (
Birmingham City and Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Fahey, 29, is reported to leading the way when it comes to the best 'Movember' effort as footballers at a number of clubs grow moustaches to raise money for charity. Joe.ie
German side Schalke have become the latest football club to give supporters the chance to be buried in the club's official graveyard. Metro
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