Mancini denies reports of Balotelli falling-out
Roberto Mancini yesterday insisted there was no bust-up with striker Mario Balotelli after the Italian was left out of Manchester City's squad for their Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
Mancini instead explained that he wanted to play with just one striker and did not want any more than two strikers on the bench with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko favoured in front of Balotelli and Carlos Tevez starting.
The City manager was responding to questions following a newspaper report in Britain that suggested the striker was dropped because of a late night-out following the Blues' draw with Stoke City last weekend.
Mancini said Balotelli was just like any other squad player at the Etihad Stadium and would have to accept being dropped from time to time.
"It is totally false what someone wrote yesterday [Thursday]. It is not true. Mario went to the stand only because we decided to play with only Tevez," he said. "Mario is a player like other players. When he is on the bench sometimes they don't understand."
City will be looking to bounce back from their European disappointment against Arsenal tomorrow, with Mancini adamant they should put their experience at the Bernabeu behind them.
The Premier League champions were leading 2-1 with just five minutes to go but goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo swung the game back into Madrid's favour and City were denied any points from their opening Champions League game.
But Mancini is confident City will be able to overturn the result when Jose Mourinho's side visit the Etihad stadium later this year.
"I think next time will be a different game," he said.
