Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Dunne takes the blame

25 Oct 2006 - 11:06:04

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Manchester City captain Richard Dunne has told the critics they are wrong to blame manager Stuart Pearce for the club's poor start to the season.

The Citizens' dismal display in last weekend's 4-0 loss at Wigan Athletic left Pearce under real pressure, with his side having won just two Premiership games this term.

Dunne is unhappy that the manager is taking all the flak and insisted he was being let down by the players.

The Irishman told the club's official website: "The manager does his thing during the week and then picks 11 players to go out on the field. They have to take responsibility.

"All week we train and we think we are good players and we all want to be in the team so when he picks one that goes out and doesn't perform it is not his fault.

"If Monday to Friday we train really well and play good football but then don't show it on match day then again it is not the manager's fault.

"We have to look at ourselves and admit it wasn't good enough, we didn't defend well enough, we weren't strong enough in midfield and we never looked like scoring.

"It is our responsibility even though the manager will take some stick because he picks the team.

"If we don't do what we are supposed to do then none of us have any chance.

"Everyone knows that we are a better team than we showed at Wigan and if we go and beat Middlesbrough then it will be one defeat in five."