Bianchi backed by Eriksson
12 Dec 2007 - 13:48:01
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is hopeful that Italian striker Rolando Bianchi will start to hit top form in the near future, having scored in the 2-1 defeat at Spurs last weekend.
The 24-year-old former Reggina frontman marked his City debut with a goal at the start of the season, before going ten Premier League games without a goal prior to his header at White Hart Lane.
Eriksson told the club's official website: "I speak with him every day and it's very easy to because we can both speak Italian. It's not been easy for him, but I hope that this goal will help his confidence.
"The English game is different, a lot of strikers who come here have problems settling in at the beginning.
"The pace is different and the tackling can be as well. I think he played as a lone striker at Reggina though, so he is used to that role.
"He seems happy and calm, he has been working very hard, so there have been no indications that he wants to leave or anything like that."
Meanwhile, Citizens playmaker Elano, who is expected to return to action this weekend after hamstring trouble, has urged his team-mates to keep pushing for a European spot.
He said: "It will be difficult for us to break into the top four this season and we will be aiming for a UEFA Cup spot, but a Champions League place is not beyond us."
