Source: Daily_Mail
Hughes loyalists haven't welcomed me at City, admits Mancini
Roberto Mancini admits he has received a frosty reception from his new Manchester City players.[LNB]Chief executive Garry Cook has insisted there is no dressing room unrest at Eastlands over the way the club sacked Mark Hughes, but the new man in charge revealed that the squad are deeply loyal to their former boss.[LNB]'The team have not particularly welcomed me,' Mancini told an Italian TV station. 'The players were very attached to Hughes, but that's how it should be.'[LNB] New era: City chief executive Garry Cook (right) presents Robert Mancini as the club's new manager at Eastlands this week[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Are Manchester City right to replace Mark Hughes with Roberto Mancini? What do you make of the goings on at Manchester City? Were the ambitious club right to axe manager Mark Hughes? And is Roberto Mancini the right man to take the Eastlands hot seat? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK City have come under widespread criticism for the way they dispensed with Hughes after Cook admitted the club had approached Mancini weeks before the former Wales boss was sacked.[LNB]The ambitious club wielded the axe immediately after the 4-3 victory over Sunderland last Saturday, leading to protests by senior players.[LNB]However, former Inter Milan boss Mancini is confident that he can win around his squad.[LNB]'I hope that when I leave Manchester, the players will behave the same way towards me.'[LNB]'I thought the players trained very well. I think I have a good team andwe have only one problem and that is many players injured.'[LNB] Bond: Mark Hughes (right) was close to City players such as Craig Bellamy[LNB]Player harmony is not the only area where Mancini disagrees withCook. The former Leicester City player dismissed claims made by hischief executive that Liverpool had approached Mancini when consideringthe future ofRafa Benitez.[LNB]Whispers: Rafa Benitez[LNB]'Liverpoolnever contacted me, absolutely,' he said. 'They have a good manager, Rafa is agood manager.'[LNB]The new City boss accepted it would take time for the players toadjust to his methods but felt they could be playing the Mancini waywithin a month. [LNB]'We must work out our defensive problem. A balance to the team isthe most important situation but for this we must work every day,' headded. 'After three or four weeks it will be possible (for them to adapt to his style). [LNB]'I hope the players play well on Saturday and understand my team talk.'[LNB]Mancini said he knows exactly what to expect from Stoke on Boxing Day. [LNB]'I am very excited for Saturday's match. I hope for the supportersit will be a good day and I hope to win for them because that isimportant,' he said. [LNB]'Stoke are a good, physical team - typically English. I watchedtheir game against Aston Villa when they played well (but lost 1-0).It is a hard match for us.'[LNB] Manchester City's sacking of Mark Hughes was unacceptable, blasts United boss Sir Alex FergusonBenzema rejects Chelsea and Man City as he vows to save his Real careerBellamy tops Redknapp's shopping list - with Pavlyuchenko set to quit SpursMancini ready to make old pal Cordoba his first signing at Manchester CityMANCHESTER CITY FC
