Source: Team_Talk
Mancini: I've had worse weeks
Roberto Mancini insists he has harder weeks in football management despite the continuing furore over the Carlos Tevez affair.[LNB] The Italian said that having to deal with such incidents - Tevez has been suspended by Manchester City after apparently refusing to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in midweek - was all part of a manager's job.[LNB]The club refused to allow direct questions about Tevez to be directed at Mancini at his pre-match press conference today, and he also did his best to downplay the ongoing drama.[LNB]Asked if this has been the toughest week of his managerial career, Mancini said: "No, no, absolutely no. Why is it difficult? Some situations can happen in football, in your job. It's important that the past is finished.[LNB]"I don't have any complications. Only one complication that we had two days ago is that we lost against Bayern Munich, only this. We started very well we can do a fantastic season, I don't have this problem.[LNB]"It is normal that one player is not happy to leave the pitch in an important game or to stay on the bench, it's a normal situation for every manager."[LNB]The Italian also dismissed suggestions that he had been embroiled in a similar incident as a player for Sampdoria in 1995.[LNB]Then, Mancini had walked off the field after not being given a penalty, was ordered back on by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and was promptly sent off a couple of minutes later. He ended up being banned for six weeks.[LNB]"I was sent off," said Mancini. "When I went to Sven I said 'change me, if not the referee will send me off'. He said 'no, stay on'. After five minutes I did a foul and the referee showed the red card."[LNB]Mancini's task now is to make sure the rest of Manchester City's star-studded squad are not distracted and continued their unbeaten Premier League record at Blackburn on Saturday.[LNB]At least the incident in Munich with Edin Dzeko has been put to bed and the Bosnian striker may now get a starting role against Blackburn after apologising for his angry reaction to being substituted in midweek.[LNB]"We didn't have any problem with Edin, it was finished on Thursday morning, our focus is on Blackburn," added Mancini.[LNB]Nigel de Jong is likely to be on the bench again and though Adam Johnson is back in training after an ankle injury it may be to soon for him.[LNB]There will certainly be some changes from the side who lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich, though, Mancini confirmed, which means possible returns for English trio Gareth Barry, James Milner and Joleon Lescott.[LNB]"Tomorrow will be like against Fulham," said Mancini, referring to the 2-2 draw at the Cottage.[LNB]"Blackburn are a strong team that play very well - they beat Arsenal recently.[LNB]"Maybe we will change some players because we want to be fresh. We need to change something between Champions League games and Premier League games."
