Close menu

Roberto Mancini angry with Manchester City players

By Nabil HassanBBC Sport at St Mary's Stadium

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments470

'Poor' Man City make Mancini angry

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said his side have a "10% chance" of retaining the Premier League title and said their defeat to Southampton was their worst performance in three years.

And Mancini believes a United win will all but end City's title challenge.

Asked if City could still win the title, he said: "We have a 10% chance: 12 points is too much at this moment."

Mancini's side fell behind to Jason Puncheon's early goal before Steven Davis made it 2-0 midway through the half.

And although Edin Dzeko pulled one back against the run of play, Saints restored their two-goal advantage shortly after the break with Gareth Barry turning the ball into his own net.

It was no more than Saints deserved against a desperately disappointing City side who Mancini admitted had performed badly.

"It was worse than poor," said the Italian. "We didn't play, it was 11 against two so it's difficult.

"I think this is the worst game in the last two or three years.

"The players played really bad - without strength, without personality. We conceded a goal that I have never seen in my life.

"I was really disappointed with my players today. When we perform like today I'm very angry. The players were away on international duty - that's not an excuse, but it is a reason.

"Some of our players came back on Friday and we played today. This made it difficult. In the end we played badly."

City were missing Carlos Tevez, who Mancini said was absent because of personal reasons but he expects to have him back for the FA Cup fifth-round tie with Leeds United next weekend.

Mancini was also critical of keeper Joe Hart, whose mistake allowed Steve Davis to put Southampton 2-0 up.

"It was a really bad mistake," admitted Mancini.

"But this is not strange. He has made two or three mistakes this year and this is not good for us."

He added: "We need to work more. Because we won last year, we think we are top players but to be top players you have to work.

"It'll be very difficult to win the league. I used to always be optimistic and want to be in this moment, but it's difficult."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

470 comments

  • Comment posted by User0789748605, at 10:57 10 Feb 2013

    Why is it that everyone assumes Man City played badly, even Mancini blames his players. I thought that Southampton played Man City out of the game, they didn’t let them have time on the ball. None of the media appear to pick up on how well Southampton played the game, give some credit to a Southampton side that gave 110% in every position on the pitch...

  • Comment posted by Guernsey Red, at 09:26 10 Feb 2013

    89. Funeral Addict

    Listen up bitter trolls, why did the oil men choose City and not YOUR club?
    Answer that!

    ---------

    Thought it was common knowledge they couldn't afford Utd? The plan was always to plow £500m odd in initially, no point doing that if you're spending twice as much up front just to get the keys.

  • Comment posted by User0352831327, at 09:34 10 Feb 2013

    Saints were outstanding. Cortese not popular with Saints fans but he may be soon . . . his appointment of Adkins was outstanding, now shifting gear with Pochettino may be a master stroke in developing a young team who seem to be holding their nerve. The excuses about M City having a bad day at the office are typical of the usual bad losers - full credit to the Saints who hopefully will march on.

  • Comment posted by User0611904062, at 21:35 9 Feb 2013

    Great managers and great players win a trophy, then go on and do it again, and again. Man City - too many mercenaries reveling in last season's gift from Man Utd.

  • Comment posted by eddiecityfan, at 09:38 10 Feb 2013

    Can I just make the point that its rather arogant for United fans and pundits to be talking about City overcoming a12 point deficit when united haven't played the Everton game yet. Yes United will probably win but its a bit arogant and disrespectful to Everton to assume its all done and dusted.

  • Comment posted by Zed The Red, at 09:19 10 Feb 2013

    I agree with 79 - Eddie. Mancini has made panic buys.

    Just look @ Rodwell, Sinclair, Maicon. Just not good enough to challenge for a 1st team role so what's the point?

    If I was a talented young and English footballer I know which Manchester club would help me develop.

  • Comment posted by unpleasant milk, at 21:50 9 Feb 2013

    #8

    Not even.

    The differences between United and City are these. United have a better manager. Better work ethic throughout the team. A winning, never say die mentality. And yes, RVP.

  • Comment posted by User0452243000, at 10:32 10 Feb 2013

    Since 1993 these are the facts

    Chelsea
    Spent £850m Sold £250m Net result = -£600m @£200m per title

    City
    Spent £700m Sold £200m Net result =-£500m @ £500m per title

    United
    Spent £500m Sold £300m Net result = -£200m @ £16m per title

    Don't forget, City have had 8 seasons out of the EPL since 1993 which makes these figures all the more totes amazeballs

    FFP - bring it on

  • Comment posted by Exasperated of Ealing, at 21:22 9 Feb 2013

    Thats made my day. 10% my harris.

  • Comment posted by User0586297018, at 08:53 10 Feb 2013

    Keep singing 6-1
    Keep singing 6-1
    Six games in Europe
    And you did not win one!

  • Comment posted by Sam, at 11:18 10 Feb 2013

    Joe Hart comes across as very arrogant and cocky so it did not suprise me when he made yet another mistake.

  • Comment posted by Bellypork, at 09:19 10 Feb 2013

    The problem here is that Mancini rested on his laurels over the summer while Alex Ferguson was doing some shrewd business. This is not only bad news for Man City fans but also the premier League season which has sort of fizzled out as a competitive spectacle. I think Mr Mancini will be on his way after the season. Perhaps an opening for José Mourinho to return to the premier League?

  • Comment posted by Robust Response, at 23:12 9 Feb 2013

    citeh had 13 men today, shocker for the ref and one of the linesmen as well as the players. Saints did you good, and thats the best goal i've seen from barry.

  • Comment posted by Traveller, at 09:47 10 Feb 2013

    I'm a Manchester United fan and have been for more than 60 years. However, I still feel upset and a little angry at those who would decry Manchester City and belittle them. Have they no feelings of sportsmanship? Clearly they do not remember the Man City Glory Days and only ridicule themselves by their inane comments.

  • Comment posted by Billy Rice, at 13:02 10 Feb 2013

    @283. Boggy Marsh.

    You have been awarded an e-yellow card for your display of intellect and rational thinking!!

    How dare you quote literature in this forum!!

    Next time, you will be off!!

  • Comment posted by kalid, at 12:39 10 Feb 2013

    The team has not performed at all this year looks like winning the title made us think we are invincible but in reality we are terrible. we need to get our heads down work hard and cut out the booze.

  • Comment posted by Cheers of a Clown, at 11:47 10 Feb 2013

    If De Gea had made the same mistake as Hart the media would have had a field day. There would have been footage of all his previous mistakes and the pundits would have picked his Spanish bones. On MOTD Alan Shearer called it a howler and you could hear Lineker mention that Hart had made a few and then they just passed over. If he wasn't the England goalkeeper he'd be ridiculed. He's very average.

  • Comment posted by armchairblue, at 21:56 9 Feb 2013

    As a City fan, I'm very happy to have Mancini in charge for the next 20 + yrs. Short-termsism in football is the new poison and the majority of younger fans are sheep, as are owners of clubs and the media. I've watched Utd and City for 40 years and would like to follow the recipe for success that is Man.United. Mancini has had early success that Fergie didn't but look what United have done since!

  • Comment posted by Bursaspor16, at 23:02 10 Feb 2013

    Can't believe Mancini is openly slating his players. No man management skills at he. He picks the squad so he should take full resonsibility. By a team full of internationals means they will be representing their countries every now and then, it's been like that for decades. He should know better. He built a great team but did not build a winning mentality. He should take some of the blame too

  • Comment posted by User0089917657, at 17:10 10 Feb 2013

    101. collymonster .... it's a City myth to make out there are more blues than reds in Manchester. Simply not true...

Top Stories