Manchester City intermin boss Brian Kidd pleased with fans' response

20 May 2013 06:47

Manchester City's interim manager Brian Kidd was pleased to hear supporters show their appreciation for former boss Roberto Mancini during their final game of the season.

Fans regularly chanted for the sacked Italian throughout their disappointing 3-2 Barclays Premier League loss to Norwich at the Etihad Stadium.

"It's been an emotional week with the events at the club. Full credit to the lads, they've got stuck in and given their best and you can't ask for any more," Kidd told BBC Sport. "I understand the cheers for the boss, he would have been disappointed if there wasn't for what he did here."

Kidd will remain in charge for next week's tour of the United States, which will see them play friendlies against Chelsea in St Louis and New York.

He added: "I've been blessed and been grateful for what football has given me. I was asked to take charge for two games and America, which has been tough with the boss going.

"The club make the decisions and you abide by it. I'm a big boy. We have fallen short of the standards we set last season, but it hasn't been for a lack of effort. You defend as a team and attack as a team, so you have to look collectively, but we haven't reached that consistency."

Norwich struck through Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt and Jonny Howson and were good value for their victory despite two excellent equalisers for Jack Rodwell.

The victory lifted the Canaries into 11th place in the table and a satisfactory finish after almost getting dragged into the relegation fight.

Manager Chris Hughton said: "I'm absolutely delighted with that. It shows, irrespective of the anxiety at certain periods, it is really about where you finish at the end of the season.

"We are delighted to have done that. We had a very good spell before Christmas, where we were excellent. We found it difficult after Christmas to get the wins we needed and the formulas but we have finished the season strong."

Source: PA