Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Mancini fears Nigel de Jong's a marked man
Roberto Mancini fears Nigel de Jong will be a marked man because of the storm which exploded after his leg-breaking challenge on Hatem Ben Arfa. [LNB]Tackling will come under intense scrutiny this weekend as the Barclays Premier League resumes, with particular focus on De Jong, playing for the first time since Newcastle's Ben Arfa was injured at Manchester City. [LNB]City manager Mancini, whose side face Blackpool on Sunday, said: 'He must pay attention in the next two or three games because referees could see him in a different way.' [LNB] Marked man: Nigel de Jong will take to the field for the first time since his tackle broke the leg of Hatem Ben Arfa[LNB]De Jong's aggression has attracted criticism since a kung-fu kick on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final, and he was dropped by Holland manager Bert van Marwijk as a direct result of the tackle which ruled Ben Arfa out for months, even though referee Martin Atkinson did not give a foul.[LNB]'Nigel is very sorry for Ben Arfa,' added Mancini. 'It was very unlucky because it was a normal tackle. The referee was one metre away. All the players were there and none of them said anything like it was a bad foul.[LNB]'I've spoken with him and he wants to play. He is not worried. He is a strong man. He is a hard player but a lot of midfielders are like Nigel. They can tackle hard but he is an honest player. Every week there are fouls worse than Nigel's, not just here but in Italy and Spain.'[LNB]Reputation: De Jong's infamous 'tackle' on Spain's Xabi Alonso caused outrage in South Africa[LNB]Van Marwijk's decision to axe De Jong and Danny Murphy's comments, accusing Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy of whipping up their players to hurt opponents, have fuelled debate on tackling in the Premier League.[LNB]Fulham manager Mark Hughes said in defence of his captain: 'I think Danny would have felt better this week if he didn't actually name the clubs. That's something he might regret.'[LNB]Murphy is using his programme notes for Saturday's game against Tottenham to explain his comments. There is no apology, as demanded by Allardyce, but he stresses the respect he has for the three managers.[LNB]In his notes, Murphy says: 'Much has been written about the comments I made at a conference I was asked to speak at last week. These were taken out of context to a certain extent and I would like to state that I have great respect for the managers in question and their achievements in the game.[LNB]'Anyone who was at the conference and listened to the whole debate would have understood the point I was trying to make. I'd like to draw a line under it now, and concentrate on today's game.'[LNB]Hughes said: 'You must recognise Danny is at the coalface. In his view, in certain games, against certain opposition, opponents, have over-stepped the mark. You have to accept that. [LNB] Use your head: Murphy attacked a number of managers fro sending their players out too pumped up[LNB]'As a manager you don't know the intent but as a player I knew whensomeone was overstepping the line or just making a fair and competitivetackle. Danny's an honest guy and has forthright views. He wanted tomake a point. Whether he did that in the right manner is open todebate.'[LNB]Wolves boss McCarthy hit back at Murphy, recalling adefeat at Fulham in September when Bobby Zamora broke a leg in achallenge from Karl Henry. [LNB]'I've had one conversation withDanny Murphy and that was after the Fulham game,' said McCarthy. 'Hesaid, 'Don't worry, I'll make sure Zamora knows it was a fair tackle'and I said, 'Great'. [LNB]'If Danny Murphy can analyse my teamtalks or beliefs from one 30-second conversation, then he's a betterman than me. I find it incredible, coming from someone who has neverbeen in the dressing room with me, never worked with me.[LNB][LNB]'Forhim to pontificate like he has is completely wrong. It was a sillycomment without a great deal of knowledge. It's damn hard to pick uppoints and it is made harder by comments like that.' [LNB] Fair tackle: Mick McCarthy claims Murphy told him he thought the leg-breaking challenge on Bobby Zamora was fair[LNB]Pulisaccused Murphy of picking on 'easy targets' while ignoring bad tacklesby De Jong and Joe Cole, who is managed at Liverpool by former Fulhamboss Roy Hodgson.[LNB]'How selective can someone be?' said afuming Pulis. 'Maybe Murphy's pursuit of a new career in the media doesnot allow him to criticise or fall out with the Premier League bigboys. Instead, he has selected easy targets, based on his ownperception and not facts. [LNB]'We must guard against rashtackles whether committed by a most gifted player or just a meremortal. We must also be realistic. We will never completely eradicateinjuries in a contact sport.'[LNB]Arsene Wenger, outspoken in thepast about reckless tackling in the Premier League, believes it isultimately the players who must shoulder responsibility for fair play.[LNB]'Itis not God who tackles people, it is players,' said Wenger as hisArsenal side prepared to face Birmingham, a game which rekindlesmemories of Eduardo's broken leg. 'It is too easy to hide behind themanager's instruction because you are responsibility for how youbehave. The referee can send somebody off but, if your leg is broken,what can you do?[LNB]'First of all, football has a responsibilityto punish people using video for the dirty tackles a referee has notseen. In France you can get six months out for a dirty tackle thereferee has not seen.' [LNB] Wenger and Hughes jump to Murphy's defence but Pulis and Mcarthy hit backBalotelli and Kolarov will be fighting fit in 10 days, reveals City boss ManciniTackling the big issue: Premier League bosses hit back at Murphy's claimsRefereeing is easy, right? Sportsmail sent Martin Keown to find out alongside Premier League official Chris FoySay sorry! Sam Allardyce seeks apology from Danny Murphy over his claims about bad tackles Explore more:People: Karl Henry, Danny Murphy, Mark Hughes, Mick McCarthy, Sam Allardyce, Joe Cole, Roy Hodgson, Bobby Zamora, Martin Atkinson Places: Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Italy
