Roberto Mancini Admits His Mistake ... But Which One Was He Talking About?

Filed under: Manchester City, Premier League, Football

It says much for Manchester City's failings and problems in the loss at Liverpool that Roberto Mancini's claim that he knew what had gone wrong and took the blame himself only muddied the waters further.

Was it starting with Carlos Tevez only to see the team's figurehead limp off with a hamstring problem that makes him doubtful for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with United?

Was it starting with Nigel de Jong and David Silva on the bench for a game that was crucial to City's hopes of reaching the Champions League?

Was it converting Edin Dzeko from one of the most prolific strikers in Europe into someone who looks about as likely to score as Andy Dibble?

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Or, without even getting started on Mario Balotelli, was it allowing himself to think that Aleksander Kolarov can cut it on the left side of a back four?

The manner of the 3-0 victory over Liverpool back in August had a doom-laden feel about it for the Reds just weeks into Roy Hodgson's reign.

But City's loss at Anfield by the same margin could have the same consequences for Mancini and his team even though it came just eight days after a thumping 5-0 win over Sunderland.

The former Inter manager spent the build up to the game claiming that this is the week that City will 'take the fruit from the tree'.

There must also be an Italian phrase for the feeling of climbing a high ladder only to find that your fruit has already gone mouldy which would have been more fitting on Monday night.

Mancini remains convinced that his team will win their way through to the FA Cup final and also finish in the top four.

They look like they have just enough to hold off Spurs, who have a tough run-in, but if it came down to Harry Redknapp's side travelling to Eastlands with something riding on the game on May 10, only one team is going to try to win.

And that must also be the fear going into Saturday's match, that City will not find it hard to win a one-off game against United by setting themselves up not to lose.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/12/roberto-mancini-admits-his-mistake-but-which-one-was-he-talk/

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