Source: Daily_Mail
Mancini lauds Juve slayer Hodgson as City prepare to face the Fulham fever
[LNB]Roberto Mancini has joined the list of senior football figures lauding veteran Fulham manager Roy Hodgson. [LNB]Hodgson led his team to a remarkable 5-4 aggregate victory against Juventus in the Europa League on Thursday night after being 4-1 down at one stage. [LNB]Like Mancini, Hodgson was once in charge of Inter Milan, and the Manchester City boss is looking forward to meeting him on Sunday when the teams come face to face. [LNB] Crazy scenes at the Cottage: Fulham beat Juventus to progress to the last eight [LNB]Mancini said: 'They played a fantastic game because after 30 minutes they were losing, then scored four goals. [LNB]'They are a strong team with a good manager. I knew about him whenhe worked in Italy and he did very well at Inter. I have a lot ofrespect for him. [LNB]Roy wonders: Fulham boss Hodgson [LNB][LNB]'It will be a difficult game and we will need to play 100% onSunday. They have a good team spirit but so have we. But we mustimprove if we want to win in the future.'[LNB]Mancini will be without Wayne Bridge following a hernia operationbut hopes the full back changes his mind about not going to the WorldCup as he believes England can win the tournament. [LNB]Bridge decided to opt out after John Terry's alleged affair with his former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. [LNB] However England manager Fabio Capello said yesterday he has keptthe door open for Bridge, who is expected to be sidelined for a month. [LNB]Mancini intends to talk to Bridge once he returns to training aboutthe importance of taking the chance, if it arises, of going to SouthAfrica. [LNB]Mancini said: 'It is always important for a player to play in theWorld Cup, because you can only play in it once or twice in your life. [LNB]'I hope for Wayne and England he changes his mind. If you have a chance of playing for England, they can win the World Cup. [LNB]Wayne's World: Mancini wants Bridge to go to the World Cup [LNB][LNB]'So for a player it is important to play in this World Cup. TheEngland team have a big chance and I hope Wayne will change his mind. [LNB]'I think he will be ready for the last five games of the season. In the next month maybe he can change his situation. [LNB]'When Wayne returns to training I will speak with him and hope he will play in the tournament.' [LNB]Mancini is looking for his side to get back on track at CravenCottage following the draw against Sunderland in the chase for atop-four spot. [LNB]He added: 'It is important to start well and I feel it was two points lost. [LNB]'We have to continue on Sunday like we did in the second half whenwe had seven or eight chances to score. Maybe if we had taken them wewould have won the game.' [LNB]Emmanuel Adebayor remains absent through suspension while Martin Petrov has a knee injury. [LNB] Fulham v MAN CITY: Wayne Bridge faces spell on sidelines with Javier Garrido set to startFULHAM v Man City: Skipper Danny Murphy and Jonathan Greening both return from bansFulham hero Clint Dempsey insists: We can win the Europa LeagueMANCHESTER CITY FC
