Roberto Mancini cut a frustrated figure during a post-match press
conference for the second Tuesday in a row after watching his Manchester City
team surrender a lead for the third time in as many games.
English champions City crashed out
of the League Cup, losing 4-2 to Aston Villa after extra time in a match which
saw Mancini clash with opposite number Paul Lambert.
City lost the match despite twice
being in the lead, just as they did in a recent European Champions League tie with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
After that defeat Mancini criticized
goalkeeper Joe Hart, with Villa manager Lambert this time the focus of the
Italian's ire.
"I am tired with this manager
because I didn't say anything," Mancini said of Lambert in a post-match
press conference. "I asked the fourth official if it was a yellow card
without moving my hands," added the Italian, referring to a Joe Bennett
tackle on Gareth Barry.
"He [Lambert] comes up to me
every time but after this some managers go to bigger stadiums and don't say
anything. I am tired of this, very tired. I am tired with their behaviour.
"It's better that some managers
shut up because I didn't speak with this manager. I asked the fourth official
if it was a yellow card and I thought the referee had left his yellow cards in
the dressing room."
The 47-year-old Italian has been no
stranger to touchline confrontations during his time in English football.
In May, Mancini was involved in a
heated exchange with Alex Ferguson during City's 1-0 win against archrivals
Manchester United.
The Italian's team have made a
stuttering start to the season, having conceded 18 goals in nine matches and
sit seventh in the Premier League after picking up just nine points from five
games following Sunday's 1-1 draw with
Arsenal.
The former Inter Milan coach
admitted City's defence is his greatest concern at the moment.
"We need to work with our
defenders because they don't work well in this moment. We need to work, only
this," added Mancini.
"It's the fourth competition
but it's the only competition that we didn't win. For this we wanted to stay in
this cup because in two years we've won everything and we're missing this cup.
We are so disappointed for this."
Mancini will be hoping City can
close the four-point gap to current Premier League leaders this weekend, when
they face Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Cnn.com September 26, 2012
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