Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has played down his latest confrontation with controversial striker Mario Balotelli.
Mancini was photographed grappling with his fellow Italian in a training ground bust-up on Thursday but the City boss insists the matter was not serious.
Mancini, speaking at a press conference to preview this weekend's FA Cup third-round clash with Watford, said: "I think the photos show the worst of what happened. It was nothing special. There was no fight, this was not true."
The incident occurred after a bad tackle by Balotelli on Scott Sinclair during a training match.
Mancini said: "We were playing a game and Mario kicked his team-mate. I said to him, 'Go inside, leave the pitch'. He said no and I took his shirt and pushed him out of the pitch. This is what really happened, nothing special."
When asked if he lost his temper, Mancini said: "No, no. For two seconds, yes - during three or four seconds because he didn't want to leave the pitch. He can't do this against no one, but then it was finished."
Source: PA
