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City boss praises duo | Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has praised the manner in which his side went level on points with defending champions Manchester United atop the Barclays Premier League standings.
While Mancini was delighted with the team effort, he handed particular distinction to goal-scorers Mario Balotelli and James Milner, insisting that the duo’s hardwork powered City to a hard-earned 2-0 win over Everton.
“I am very happy because we kept going and didn’t give up. Everton made things very difficult so we needed to be patient and find a way through, which we eventually found,” Mancini told the club’s official website.
Moving on to the individual performance of Balotelli, he added: “Mario is a good guy and he loves Manchester City. Sometimes he isn’t happy when he scores – today he was and I am very pleased for him. He has had to wait for his chance and today he got it.”
When asked whether his decision to choose Balotelli over skipper Carlos Tevez wil once again unsettle the Argentine, Mancini refused to get into too much detail and simply explained. that his decision was tactical.
“I needed somebody who could play out wide, which Mario can while Carlos is more of a central striker. There is no other reason,” the former Inter manager stated.
Last, but not least, Mancini had kind words for the persistence of Milner, who scored his first goal of the season late in the match to put the Toffees away.
“I am also very pleased for James Milner because he works hard and wasn’t 100% fit today, yet he came on and made the game safe for us so I am also happy for him, too,” the gaffer concluded.
Tomorrow evening’s UEFA Champions League match away to Bayern Munich will undoubtedly provide the Eastlands outfit with the biggest test of the season thus far as the German Bundesliga leaders have won all of their last six domestic fixtures.
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