Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini did not trust himself to speak to media after
being angered by events during his side's 1-1 draw at
Stoke.
Yaya Toure struck a superb, albeit deflected, equaliser but
Mancini was angered by Stoke's rugged approach and an incident in
the first half when Dean
Whitehead clashed with
David Silva.
City playmaker Silva needed
treatment for a head wound after being caught by Whitehead's arm in
an aerial challenge, but referee Howard Webb did not book the
player.
It was also claimed Mancini did
not shake his opposite number Tony Pulis'
hand after the game, such was his indignation.
City first team coach David Platt,
addressing Mancini's failure to attend the press conference, said:
"It's not a case of being too angry - he's just wary that he might
say something that gets him in hot water.
"It's about the way the game
unfolded. It is very difficult when you come here and sometimes you
look for a bit of protection. It's a bit hot afterwards but once
he's calmed down he'll be fine.
"You know what he is like and if
he comes in and something goes out where it is lost in
translation..."
The result took City back above
Manchester United on goal difference at the top, but their rivals
now play their game in hand against Fulham on Monday.
Platt rubbished claims the
Manchester clubs are becoming embroiled in mind games as the title
race hots up.
Earlier this week City's football
development executive Patrick Vieira claimed United had shown signs
of weakness by bringing Paul
Scholes out of retirement.
United boss Sir Alex
Ferguson then returned fire by
saying City's recall of Carlos
Tevez, who spent three months in Argentina without
permission earlier this season, was a greater sign of
desperation.
Platt said: "It doesn't matter what the ammunition is and what
words are. It is all about amassing points.
"It is not about winning leagues because of mind games. It is
about players going onto a pitch to play football and gain points.
If we have more points than them at the end of the season everyone
will perceive that Robbie has won the war of words.
"If it is the other way round, people will perceive Sir Alex has
won it, but it is inconsequential really. It is about what both
teams do on the pitch."
Platt claimed he did not see the Whitehead incident but said
Stoke had been tough opponents.
He said: "You know it is going to be difficult when you come
here, you know what to expect. It is a great goal, no doubt about
it. It is route one from the goalkeeper, what you expect - but you
know as soon as it has left his foot, if it is on target, it is
going in the back of the goal."
Up for it: Peter Crouch celebrates scoring Stoke's goal
at the Britannia Stadium
Fuming: Roberto Mancini after the final
whistle
Stoke boss Tony Pulis did not give a conclusive answer
when asked if Mancini had refused to shake his hand after the game.
"He has got to do what he has got to do," he said.
Pulis preferred to speak about the character of his players, who
refused to let City impose themselves, and was particularly
impressed by Crouch.
He said: "It was a very competitive game, a good game. We were
disappointed in the first half we never got a penalty - we thought
(Gareth) Barry's challenge on (Glenn) Whelan was a definite
penalty.
