Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Mancini gives Manchester City a perfect Boxing Day present...
Roberto Mancini enjoyed a victorious first game in charge of Manchester City but was forced to deny that he had left out Craig Bellamy because of his loyalty to previous manager Mark Hughes.[LNB] With the much-ridiculed chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak and chief executive Garry Cook watching, Manchester City's new manager sought to put the PR disaster of Hughes' sacking behind them and was rewarded with goals from Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez in a 2-0 win over Stoke City.[LNB] High kick: Carlos Tevez jumps to score City's second in Roberto Mancini's first game in charge[LNB] Mancini received a warm welcome from City fans. But after the shock exclusion of Bellamy, a player who was close to Hughes, and the inclusion of Robinho, whose form has been indifferent, Mancini insisted the politics of the past week had played no part.[LNB] 'Bellamy is my friend,' said Mancini. 'I spoke with him two days ago and there is no problem. We have two games in three days and we need all the players 100 per cent. I started with Robinho but it's possible against Wolves, Craig will play.'[LNB] Blue brothers: Roberto Mancini congratulates Carlos Tevez[LNB] Mancini pointed to the injuries that have deprived him of central strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani as the reason for resting one of his attacking players. He said: 'Today I had Craig, Robinho and Tevez. I don't have a big striker. So we will play two and rest one.'[LNB] Mancini was delighted with his team's performance. 'I have to say thank you to the players because they were fantastic,' he said. [LNB] Sale or return: Everton boss David Moyes keen to offload Jo back to Manchester City GARY LINEKER: Even if City make it to fifth, will Mancini be there next season? Don't count on itMan City 2 Stoke 0: Petrov and Tevez gets Mancini era off to winning start[LNB] [LNB]
