SOCCER:ROBERTO MANCINI may not seem like one of the world's natural underdogs but Manchester City's manager claims playing second fiddle to more illustrious opponents has become his default position.
Mancini heads to Wembley apparently rather relaxed that Manchester United are firm favourites to progress from tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final. “This is my life,” he said. “It was the same when I went to Lazio because Roma were better and, at Internazionale, because AC Milan won everything.”
Mancini proceeded to confound the doubters by enjoying his fair share of managerial glory at both clubs but his current side’s looming Wembley task is complicated by the hamstring injury that will sideline City’s talisman, Carlos Tevez for at least the next three weeks.
“I’m disappointed, Carlos is an important player for us and it’s a serious injury, a tear,” said Mancini who is, at least, bolstered by Micah Richards’s return to full fitness.
“It’s a big problem but this is football, United are playing without Rooney. And we have Dzeko, Balotelli and Jo, good strikers who can play well and score. We know Carlos is very important for us but we can win this game without him. Anything can happen in one game against United. Who would have thought Birmingham could beat Arsenal? And I trust my players.”
Doubts linger as to whether this emotion is mutual. Asked whether he believed City’s squad to be fully supportive of him the Italian said “yes” before spelling out why dissent was in no one’s interests.
“It would be stupid because, like me, the players have a good chance here,” he stressed. “It’s important for these players because it could be their first trophy. Throughout my career I always played to win. For them it’s the same. It doesn’t matter who plays on Saturday, all the players are behind me.”
Mancini is convinced City’s winning the FA Cup could represent a watershed in modern Mancunian football history. “It’s difficult to start to win,” he said. “That’s why I think that if we get to the final and win this trophy the mentality will change. I’m sure that if we get to the final we will win the cup.”
Meanwhile, Gareth Bale has expressed his determination to drive Tottenham Hotspur into next season’s Champions League, after their quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid.
The Wales winger said his team faced “a hell of a run-in” and suggested that they might need to win all seven of their remaining Premier League fixtures to ensure that they finish in a top-four position.
Spurs’ remaining fixtures begin at home to Arsenal on Wednesday and include trips to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Tottenham are currently fifth, three points behind City but with a game in hand.
Bale said he took encouragement from last season, when an FA Cup semi-final defeat by Portsmouth was followed by wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and City that secured Spurs’ Champions League spot. Bale scored winners against Arsenal and Chelsea.
“I have grown massively as a player and the Champions League will be the highest I will play at the moment, with Wales struggling to qualify for a major finals,” he said.
“So the Champions League is the best I will play in for the time being. Everyone thrives off it and I want to play in it as much as I can now. We are hungry to get back next season.”
