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Roberto Mancini hopes Europe distracts Manchester United from title race
Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United’s impending Champions League clash with Real Madrid could tilt the title race back in Manchester City’s favour after insisting that only a “very small” gap will separate the two clubs by the end of the month.
City face the prospect of falling 10 points behind Premier League leaders United ahead of the match with Liverpool tomorrow if Alex Ferguson’s team win at Fulham this evening.
But with United due to play the first leg of their last-16 tie against Real in the Bernabeu on Feb 13, Mancini believes that the distraction of tackling the Spanish champions will offer City the chance to close in on their neighbours.
“They [Real Madrid] are two important games for United, so I think that February and March could be the time when it’s possible to decide this championship,” Mancini said.
“In every championship, no team has ever won the title in January and I think that, when we arrive at the end of February, the gap will be very, very small. If United have a lead of seven, eight or nine points in April, it could be difficult, but in this moment, we have a big chance.
“Every team during the season has two or three weeks when they don’t play well, when their performances go down and they don’t score. It could be the same for them [United] now.”
The departure of Mario Balotelli to AC Milan this week has reduced Mancini’s attacking options over the final weeks of this campaign, despite the City manager admitting that 20-year-old Swedish forward John Guidetti will be promoted to the squad once he proves his fitness following a debilitating virus.
Long-term, Mancini aims to replace Balotelli with a proven goalscorer this summer, with Napoli forward Edinson Cavani the Italian’s favoured option. And while Mancini admires Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, the potential cost of luring the Uruguayan from Anfield, in terms of fee and wages, would all but certainly rule out such a move.
Mancini was careful, however, to avoid talking up a bid for Suarez when asked of the likelihood of attempting to sign Liverpool's leading goalscorer. “Suarez for me is a top player. I like him because he is strong. For me is one of the best in England, but he plays for Liverpool.
“For us, selling Balotelli was a good situation because, in this moment, we can start to work to find another solution for the summer. I think it was good for him and us.”
Balotelli: "Happy that I left England"
Mario Balotelli admits he will miss Manchester City after his deadline-day move to AC Milan but the Italian took a firm swipe at English culture.
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The 22-year-old completed his move from the Etihad Stadium to the San Siro on Thursday, and speaking at a press conference Balotelli pulled no punches over his turbulent two-and-a-half-year stint away from his homeland.
He said: "I have to say thanks to all the City fans because they've been very nice to me and they always supported me in the good and in the bad moments. And I have to thank my team-mates, and the manager. Everything else, I'm happy that I left England.
"Good things - only when I get to Carrington to train. So my team-mates and manager. And the bad things? Everything else.
"The press, first. The weather. The food. The way you drive. That's it."
Balotelli refused to directly answer a question from one English newspaper journalist during his press conference.
However he was positive about the league he had left behind.
"To be honest the Premier League is an amazing league and I think it is the best. The crowd and the pitch ... it's an amazing league," he said.
"I don't know in the future if I could come back. For the moment I'm here."
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani presented Balotelli with his number 45 shirt before thanking the Barclays Premier League champions for their co-operation in allowing the deal to go ahead.
He said: "As a club we are happy to bring back our Italian player after long negotiations and have to thank Manchester City in helping this transfer to go through. It was the most complicated in my career.
"We are happy that Balotelli has joined the team he supported as a boy and it has been a dream of mine for a long to bring the player to the club.
"I always said it was 99.9 per cent that it would not happen. I was just being realistic, but now it has happened."
City boss Roberto Mancini, who first gave Balotelli a chance at Inter Milan, brought the unpredictable forward to England in summer 2010 and stood by him after a series of misdemeanours on and off the field.
The manager even vowed to give Balotelli "another 100 chances" after a high-profile training-ground altercation with him last month, but Milan's persistent interest in the player led to his departure.
Asked if there was a weight on his shoulders after joining his boyhood club, the former Inter forward said: "It's an honour and a great opportunity so I hope to grow as a player and I am here as a man. I hope to stay as here as long as possible.
"It has always been a dream for me to play for Milan and I am happy to be back near my family but I would rather play than talk about it."
Balotelli scored 30 goals in 80 appearances for City and played key roles in the 2011 FA Cup success and last year's Premier League title win.
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[/spoiler]I like Suarez, admits Mancini
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed his admiration for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, saying: "He is a top player."
Mancini has been linked with a move for Suarez in the summer as he looks to bring in a replacement for Mario Balotelli.
Suarez will come up against Mancini this weekend and the City boss is a big fan of the Uruguayan forward.
"Suarez for me is a top player," Mancini said. "I like him because he is strong and he works hard. For me, he is one of the best in England."
Asked if he would like to sign Suarez, Mancini laughed: "Suarez? But he plays for Liverpool. Yeah I like his quality. He has quality and he is strong."
Suarez recently pledged his future to Liverpool saying he would stay at Anfield even if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
ROBERTO MANCINI is considering a £40 million summer bid for Luis Suarez to fill the gap left by Mario Balotelli.
Suarez pledged to stay with Liverpool even if they fail to reach the Champions League, but Manchester City boss Mancini is set to test that loyalty.
Mancini has made no secret of his admiration for Uruguayan Suarez, who has scored 22 goals this season. Liverpool visit the Etihad Stadium tomorrow and Mancini said: “Suarez is a top player. I like him because he has quality, he is strong and he works. He is one of the best in England. But he plays for Liverpool.” Mancini, frustrated to miss out on Robin van Persie, has sold Balotelli to AC Milan and could offload Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez.
GOLDEN BOLLOX FROM 2-2-2010
Typical City?
Reports in Spain this morning have confirmed that Manchester City came within a whisker of signing Argentinean defensive midfielder Fernando Gago in the final minutes of the transfer window yesterday.
Manchester City had agreed an 18 million euro deal with Real Madrid for the 23-year-old but the bank guarantees and contract could not be pushed through in time.
The Premier League side had been in negotiations with McDonald Mariga for much of yesterday but once they realized they could not secure a work permit for the Kenyan midfielder they returned to Real Madrid with an offer for Gago.
New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was eager to secure a midfield signing and the 18 million euro fee was agreed but they failed to get the paperwork through in time.
Gago was keen on a move to Eastlands as he needs playing time to secure a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad. Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini has since reassured the former Boca Juniors midfielder that he will be used in the second half of the campaign.
As well as missing out on Gago, McDonald Mariga joined Inter Milan from Parma and signed a contract until 2014 with the Nerazzurri.
Manchester City face defensive crisis at Vincent Kompany ruled out for a fortnight
Manchester City face a defensive crisis in the coming weeks after Vincent Kompany was ruled out for at least two weeks with a groin strain.
The towering centre-back, who scored his first goal since 2008 against Portsmouth on Sunday, joins Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards on the treatment table.
Kompany was deployed in the midfield anchor role under City's former boss Mark Hughes and often struggled for form. However since being nudged into the heart of defence by Roberto Mancini the Belgium international has excelled.
He thumped in a marvellous match-sealing header on the stroke of half-time on Sunday but hobbled off just before the hour mark. Kompany is likely to miss the trip to Hull next weekend, as well as a midweek visit of Bolton and back-to-back games, one in the FA Cup, against Stoke.
Golden WAG 2-2-2010
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Micah Richards will also be short for the match at the KC Stadium after picking up a calf injury against Manchester United in the Carling Cup. Lescott will only return to training next week. Left-back Wayne Bridge, though, should be fit to face the Tigers.
City have been boosted by the return of skipper Kolo Toure with a man of the match-winning performance at Eastlands.
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor thanked his Manchester City "family" for providing support following the deadly gun attacks on Togo's football team in Angola in January. Daily Mirror
TRANSFER BOLLOX from 2-2-2010
It wasn't the most dramatic of transfer deadline days, with less than £20m being splashed out in the final 24 hours of the window.
Arsenal midfielder and captain Cesc Fabregas is set to rejoin Barcelona in the summer. The 22-year-old Spaniard is contracted to the Gunners until the end of the 2013/2014 campaign but is unhappy with the team's lack of ambition. (Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo)
Paris St Germain's bid to sign Manchester United midfielder Anderson fell through because the French club were reluctant to pay the Brazilian's wages. DSSC
Sunderland missed out on landing Egypt winger Ahmed Al-Muhammadi after his club ENPPI rejected the Black Cats' bid of £2m. DSSC
One of the most unusual deals on deadline day was Mido's move to West Ham - where he will be on the lowest wages for a player in the Premier League. The Egypt striker signed on a six-month loan from Middlesbrough for £1,000 a week and Hammers owner David Sullivan called the deal "one of the most amazing of all time".Sun
Alex Ferguson: Spare fans from sadism
Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has called on his team to turn their "sadistic nature" on their opposition rather than their own fans as they look to move 10 points clear at the top of the table at Fulham today.
Ferguson's side, who have secured 10 wins in a 12-match unbeaten run in the league, head into the weekend with a seven-point advantage but with Manchester City hosting Liverpool tomorrow, United could take the gap up to double figures.
Their forthcoming games will give Ferguson, who yesterday denied a charge by the Football Association that he implied a referee's assistant was motivated by bias, the belief that the gap could grow even larger before the final Manchester derby on 6 April.
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says his team-mate Robin Van Persie is so good that sometimes he wants to "stand there and clap" in training. The Sun
Free agent Nigel Reo-Coker, 28 could make a post-deadline day move to West Brom. The former West Ham midfielder has been without a club since rejecting a new deal with Ipswich and is able to move outside of the transfer window. DSSC
Newcastle are already planning to buy a new striker in the summer transfer window, with the club's scouts exploring a number of options in mainland Europe. Evening Chronicle
Mexico striker Aldo de Nigris, 29, says he turned down a January move to Premier League strugglers Wigan. Univision Deportes
West Brom manager Steve Clarke insists want-away striker Peter Odemwingie can have a future at the club despite the lengths the 31-year-old went to secure a deadline day move to QPR. Times
Odemwingie disputes West Brom's version of events and will fight any fine imposed on him as believes he had permission from technical director Dan Ashworth to travel to London to discuss his move to Harry Redknapp's side. Daily Mirror
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says he has given up his penalties duties voluntarily, saying "they weren't good enough". The Sun
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 21, will not feature in this summer's European Under-21 Championships as he is fully established in the senior set-up. London Evening Standard
Leeds United fans are planning a quackers greeting for transfer deadline day signing Habib Habibou - they're going to dress up as ducks in tribute to the 25-year-old striker due to a video featuring him throwing one of the birds off a football pitch. Metro
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor, 27, is listening to a 'teach yourself French' CD in his car to help his new Gallic team-mates feel at home in the north east. Daily Mirror
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Alexander Doni, 33, has revealed he suffered a 25-second long heart attack while undergoing medical tests at the club last summer. Globo Esporte
GOLDEN BOLLOX FROM 2-2-2011
Palermo - City were in for Javier Pastore
Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini claimed that the Manchester City manager had called him on deadline day with an enquiry about the Serie A side’s 21-year-old playmaker Javier Pastore.
But the confused Zamparini said that he could not do a deal as “I cannot speak English!”
Chelsea and Manchester City confident they will meet Uefa financial fair-play rules
Chelsea and Manchester City are confident that they will meet Michel Platini’s new financial fair-play rule despite a fresh warning from Uefa and general shock across Europe at Premier League spending during the January transfer window.
Adriano Galliani, vice-president of AC Milan, summed up the mood on the Continent yesterday when he described the behaviour of English clubs as “crazy”. Uefa also issued a statement to remind clubs that it would apply its new rules “with rigour”.
Chelsea's decision to spend £72million on the day that they announced annual losses of £70.9million hardly appears compatible with Uefa’s break-even principle but, according to club sources, they remain firmly on target to satisfy Platini’s requirements.
That is mostly because previous spending cuts will result in the club going close to the break-even target in the accounting year for 2010-11.
Chelsea and Manchester City are acutely aware of key caveats in Uefa’s 85-page financial fair-play handbook. Clubs will be permitted up to £38.5million in losses in the first monitoring period of 2011-12 and 2012-13.
However, even if they miss that target, they will also escape sanctions if they meet two requirements: the trend of losses is downward and, most significant of all, the overspend is caused by commitments on wages and transfer fees that were made before June 2010.
That means that, in the first accounting period, clubs can write off the cost of wages that arose from contracts agreed prior to last summer’s transfer window. This will act as a potentially crucial safety blanket for clubs such as Manchester City, whose most recent annual losses were £121.3million.
It also goes some way to explaining why, even amid the spectre of financial fair-play, English clubs have collectively spent more than in any previous January transfer window.
Alex Ferguson denies FA misconduct charge
Alex Ferguson has denied a Football Association charge over comments he made about an official after Manchester United's Premier League game at Spurs.
The Manchester United boss, 71, accused assistant referee Simon Beck of failing to give Wayne Rooney a "clear" penalty.
The FA asked Ferguson to explain his comments and charged him on Tuesday.
He has requested a paper hearing, which means he will send a written submission rather than appearing in person. The FA is yet to decide the hearing's date.
Play media'Really poor' official angers Ferguson
When it charged Ferguson with misconduct the FA stated: "It is alleged the Manchester United manager breached FA Rule E3 in that he implied that the match official was motivated by bias."
Ferguson had until Friday afternoon to reply to the charge, which came as a result of comments made during a post-match interview on 20 January at White Hart Lane.
The Scot had appeared incensed after his side had their request for a spot-kick turned down prior to Clint Dempsey striking an injury-time equaliser for Spurs in the 1-1 draw.
"There was no way the linesman was going to give that - he gave them everything," said Ferguson after the game.
"It was a clear decision. And he was 10, maybe 12 yards away from the incident and he doesn't give it. And yet he gave everything else."
The cunt also referred to a previous incident involving Beck in the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea in April 2010.
Despite Chelsea striker Didier Drogba looking offside, Beck allowed the winning goal and it proved a pivotal moment in the Premier League title race, which Chelsea eventually won.
"I am disappointed with him [Beck] - we have not had a good record with him," Ferguson told BBC Sport after the Spurs match.
"With Chelsea a couple of years back, he gave onside to Didier Drogba and he was three yards offside. You remember these things because it is in important games and that was an important game."
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