Source: Team_Talk
Forward thinking from Mancini
Roberto Mancini is content Manchester City have got their defending right - now he wants to concentrate on the attack.[LNB] City tackle Newcastle at Eastlands on Sunday having conceded just six times all season.[LNB]Two of those efforts came in a bizarre two-minute spell that saw them knocked out of the Carling Cup at West Brom last week, another was a penalty and a fourth thanks to a ridiculous mix-up between Joe Hart and Kolo Toure against Blackburn.[LNB]Juventus' Vincenzo Iaquinta scored the latest in last night's Europa League draw at Eastlands.[LNB]However, considering that was City's 11th game of the season, Mancini is reasonably pleased with the overall ratio.[LNB]Of more concern is the fact that his side have scored on only 14 occasions, and managed more than one only three times.[LNB]Even with Mario Balotelli out of action until the end of this month at the earliest, Mancini feels his side should be doing better.[LNB]And that is what they will be spending hours on at their Carrington training base in future.[LNB]"We have worked very well in the defensive phase, now we must improve on the offensive side so we score more than one goal a game," said Mancini.[LNB]"But I believe we only have this problem because all our strikers are injured.[LNB]"When Emmanuel Adebayor recovers 100% fitness and Mario Balotelli is back, I am confident we can change this situation."[LNB]Mancini realises there will be extra focus on his side this weekend because of their victory over Chelsea.[LNB]The Italian needs no reminding that immediately after smashing three goals past Liverpool last month, they lost at Sunderland, then failed to overcome Blackburn immediately after the international break.[LNB]"We must beat teams like Newcastle and West Brom," said Mancini, referring to the side his team play after the forthcoming break as well.[LNB]"We can't allow ourselves just to think we can beat Chelsea and Liverpool.[LNB]"If we want to go higher up the table we must beat other teams as well."[LNB]Not that life is particularly easy for Mancini at the moment.[LNB]After a period of his team being badly affected by injury, it seemed there was some light at the end of the tunnel when Jerome Boateng was able to make his first start last night.[LNB]Within 45 minutes, Mancini had lost another player as Pablo Zabaleta suffered the hamstring strain that has ruled him out for a fortnight.[LNB]Now Mancini is faced with the choice of either pressing Joleon Lescott back into service after a groin problem, or picking Boateng for his second game in four days even though the Germany full-back has only just recovered from a knee injury that prevented him playing any part in pre-season.[LNB]Little wonder Mancini is relieved to be able to call upon former captain Kolo Toure and Toure's central defensive partner Vincent Kompany, who has been outstanding so far this term.[LNB]Rarely has Didier Drogba been outmuscled in the manner he was last weekend and Kompany followed that up with another eye-catching performance against Juventus.[LNB]"Vincent compares with anyone - and he is still only 24," said Mancini.[LNB]"He can also play in the midfield but for now he is doing very well as a defender.[LNB]"I saw him when he was 18 and was playing for Anderlecht against Inter Milan in the Champions League.[LNB]"He was very young but he had good technical ability and a great attitude.[LNB]"He has improved since then and can get even better."[LNB]
