• Italian says his players need to change their
mentality
• 'They must understand the manager can choose only 11'
Roberto
Mancini's growing irritation about the
frequency with which Manchester City
players have complained publicly about his managerial
methods manifested itself todaywith a strongly worded warning that
they need to change their mentality and put an end to the current
pattern of voicing their displeasure through the
media.
Mancini has already discarded Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland
in part because of their attitude behind the scenes, but the
problems have persisted in the opening part of this season, with
Emmanuel Adebayor's behaviour increasingly becoming a matter of
concern.
Shay Given's disillusionment after losing his place to Joe Hart
also led to a meeting with Mancini yesterday, but the Italian has
made it clear that he will not tolerate any more outbursts from his
players as he tries to establish a squad rotation policy. "I want a
mentality like at Manchester United and Chelsea, where the players
understand why the manager has to make changes, but the problem for
us is that we can't just change it in five months," Mancini
said.
"I played football myself and I understand why the players who
are not chosen are unhappy but at the same time it's really
important that we start to change their mentality because if we
want to win something, to become a top team, it's going to be
impossible if every few days a player does an interview saying
[putting on a sad voice]: 'Oh, I'm not playing.'
"I understand that only 11 players are happy and the rest are
unhappy but we must change because the other top teams have this
mentality and now it's time the players here understand that the
manager can choose only 11 players and if he leaves someone out
it's not because he thinks Manu [Adebayor] or [Mario] Balotelli or
Kolo [Touré] are not good players. They can knock on my door and I
will always give them an explanation."
Given will make his first appearance of the season in the
Carling Cup at West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, with Mancini planning
up to seven changes, but the Republic of Ireland international has
become disenchanted with being Hart's understudy and, in an
interview at the weekend, complained that "if I'm flying around
like Clark Kent in goal, I still won't play on Saturday". Given
went on to make it clear he would like to leave on loan in the
January transfer window.
"The goalkeeper is a different position to the rest of the
team," Mancini said. "We are lucky because we have two fantastic
goalkeepers, but I can choose only one and I can't change every
game. I hope Shay stays here, but if he doesn't want to stay I
understand the situation."
The problems with Adebayor are more of a concern for Mancini,
not so much the striker's recent assertion that he would look to
leave the club if he were not playing regularly, but a continuation
of the disruptive attitude that helped to persuade Arsenal to sell
him last year. Mancini's strategy is to deny there is a problem in
public, much like he tried to play down his issues with Bellamy,
Ireland and Carlos Tevez last season, but he is becoming
exasperated by his inability to get through to the player. "I don't
know if he wants to stay or not," he admitted at one point.
Adebayor has made only two starts this season and missed the
last three games because of a thigh problem, with Mancini reported
at the weekend to be sceptical about the authenticity of the
injury. "It's false to say we fought in the dressing room or on the
training pitch," he said. "We discussed the situation with his
injury but, for example yesterday, he worked with the team [in
training]. If Manu is available for West Bromwich, we will see. If
he's available for Chelsea [on Saturday], he can come on the
bench."
