Source: Team_Talk
Mancini revels in Balotelli winner
Roberto Mancini saluted Mario Balotelli after the Italian striker put Manchester City on the road to the group stages of the Europa League.[LNB] Balotelli, 20, stepped off the bench to score the winner in the 1-0 play-off first leg victory against Timisoara in Romania.[LNB]He swept the ball home from close range after being set up by Emmanuel Adebayor in the 72nd minute.[LNB]It has been a whirlwind week for Balotelli, whose registration was only received by UEFA on deadline day after he arrived last week from Inter Milan for a reported £24million.[LNB]City boss Mancini said: "He had a great debut and I am happy that he scored. He is a good player.[LNB]"He needs to improve of course and get to know everybody. It was the first time he had played with the team."[LNB]Balotelli, however, picked up a booking after losing his cool and was told by Mancini not to repeat his actions in England.[LNB]The Italian warned: "We must work on this with him because it will be different in the Premier League than in Italy."[LNB]Balotelli needed treatment at the end of the game but should be available to face Liverpool at home on Monday.[LNB]Mancini said: "We do not think it is serious. It was probably just a kick, it is not a problem."[LNB]England's biggest spenders were good value for their victory after stepping up the pace in the second half.[LNB]Yaya Toure thumped a shot against the post before Balotelli stunned the industrious home side.[LNB]Mancini said: "It was a difficult game because Timisoara are a good team and they played very well in the first half.[LNB]"In the end, it is a good result for us. But they made it difficult for us by getting so many players behind the ball.[LNB]"All the players played well, especially in the second half and we moved the ball quickly. When (Adam) Johnson came on, he also did well.[LNB]"I think we deserved to score another goal because we had three or four good chances."[LNB]But Mancini stressed that the tie was not over and there was still work to be done at Eastlands.[LNB]He added: "Football is strange. When you think you can win easy, you must have maximum concentration."
