Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City boss Mancini blames allergic reaction for Balotelli missing start of second half
Roberto Mancini blamed an allergic reaction for Mario Balotelli's failure to appear on time for the second half as his side crashed in Kiev.[LNB] Manchester City claimed the ?24million striker has an allergy to certain types of grass and had experienced swelling to his face. He was given two anti-histamine shots at half-time and club medics considered giving him an injection of adrenaline.[LNB]Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester City 0: Read Chris Wheeler's match report[LNB] Feeling blue: Mario Balotelli tried to play on despite feeling unwell[LNB]Balotelli appeared to be sick by the side of the pitch and lasted only a few minutes of the second half before being replaced by Carlos Tevez.[LNB]Mancini said: 'He had an allergy, I don't know what, his face was swollen.[LNB]'He wanted to come out for the second half but he had this problem 10 seconds before coming out for the second half. I came out one minute before the players and I didn't see Mario. [LNB]'A guy told me Mario had an allergy after he came out. Mario said: "I can play" but his face was swollen.'[LNB] Last night's defeat leaves City's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals hanging by a thread, but Mancini refused to concede defeat in the tie.[LNB] [LNB]He said: 'At Eastlands it will be a different game. Usuallywe don't concede goals like this - we are more professional. We conceded twostupid goals. They played on the counter, so I'm frustrated.'[LNB]He added: 'I think we had some problems and I hope that it can improve with the strikers for the return match.[LNB]'If the strikers improve and the defenders pay attention maybe we have a chance to go through. Dynamo Kiev were fresher than us. A few of us in the championship we have played (recently) every three days.[LNB]'I think that 2-0 is not a good result - we didn't mark well for the first goal, the second goal the same. We were four or five metres from the opponent. When you mark in the box you should be near.'[LNB] Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester City 0: Andriy Shevchenko shows he still has the knackCity defender Wabara joins Crewe on loan to aid Alex promotion bidDrogba defends Ivory Coast team-mate Toure over failed drugs testAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Mario Balotelli Places: Manchester
