Source: Team_Talk
Mancini: I'm not under pressure
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini defended his tactics after another 0-0 draw at home this week - and says he is not under any pressure.[LNB] On Wednesday, City failed to find a way past Manchester United. On Saturday afternoon it was the same story against a Birmingham outfit hovering above the drop zone but committed to blanket defending the hosts were unable to get past.[LNB]Carlos Tevez did have a first-half effort ruled out for handball and James Milner's shot was kicked off the line by Stephen Carr at the start of the second period.[LNB]But disenchantment in the stands grew when Tevez was replaced by Gareth Barry in the final stages, forcing Mancini onto the back foot.[LNB]"I am frustrated as well," he said. "I wanted to win. I don't want to draw or lose.[LNB]"Carlos has had a little injury for two or three weeks and I felt if we took off that player we might have more chances to score.[LNB]"But if you think I put four strikers on and we score four goals, it is not true.[LNB]"All supporters are like this, in England and Italy. I must think like a manager. We can play wide, get the ball into the box, then we can score.[LNB]"Supporters just think why don't you put more strikers in the box, two, three, four, five."[LNB]The absence of Emmanuel Adebayor with a heel injury and Mario Balotelli through suspension led to Mancini introducing Roque Santa Cruz midway through the second half.[LNB]Yet £18million Brazilian forward Jo remained on the bench as Tevez made his way off, raising a rueful eyebrow as he took his place in the dugout.[LNB]With just one win in five Barclays Premier League games - and no league goals on home soil since the beginning of October - questions are being asked of Mancini, by supporters if not the club's owners.[LNB]The Italian flew back home on a family visit this evening, although he insists he feels under no pressure.[LNB]"Which pressure? For what?" he said. "You continue to say I am under pressure. Which pressure? Because some supporters say I did not put two strikers on, or journalists say I am too defensive?[LNB]"I am not under pressure. We are in fourth position. We have some problems. Since the start of the season it has been the case that if Carlos Tevez doesn't score, no-one does.[LNB]"We must improve that. But we have only played 13 games. When I have all my players and we have the right balance, then maybe we play better."[LNB]Ironically, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish seemed more relaxed even though his side are struggling at the wrong end of the table.[LNB]It was a job well done for the visitors, with the former Scotland chief admitting he would have taken a point before kick-off.[LNB]"I was never comfortable," he said. "The second half in particular was a bit scary but the longer the game went I felt we could just nick something."[LNB]McLeish confirmed midfielder Craig Gardner suffered an ankle injury, which he had hoped to run off but found the pain was just too severe.[LNB]"He was struggling even before City came out for the second-half," said McLeish. "But we stood firm. Everyone put a shift in for us.[LNB]"We know we have a big fight in this league but we are not getting panicky and paranoid looking at league tables in November."
