Mancini standing by Mario

Mancini standing by Mario

Mario Balotelli: A source of frustration for Roberto Mancini but the manager will not give up on him

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted he will not give up on Mario Balotelli but he hopes the striker will improve very quickly.

Mancini stated last week that he could not trust Balotelli, before criticising his fellow Italian's performance against Sunderland even when he had scored two goals.

Since then there have also been unconfirmed reports of a dressing-room argument with team-mate Yaya Toure and speculation City would be willing to consider offers for him in the summer.

However, while Balotelli remains a source of recurring frustration for Mancini, the City boss still wa nts to coax the best out of him.

Asked if he was prepared to give up on the former Inter Milan youngster, Mancini said: "No.

"I am frustrated because sometimes I think it is not possible that a player with his class and his technique can play a game like this.

"I think he is young and I hope for him he can improve very quickly for his future. A player like Mario in the Premier League should score one or two goals every game."
Roberto Mancini on Mario BalotelliQuotes of the week

"I think he is young and I hope for him he can improve very quickly for his future.

"A player like Mario in the Premier League should score one or two goals every game."

Bad moment

Balotelli may have struck twice in the 3-3 draw with the Black Cats but his afternoon was also noted for a row with Aleksandar Kolarov over who should take a free-kick.

"This was a bad moment," Mancini said.

"I t hink a professional player can't do what they did in that moment, when we were losing 3-1."

The two points dropped against Sunderland could prove costly to City in the title race but Mancini maintains that his players will not be throwing in the towel.

He said: "We should be strong, I believe always.

"The message is always the same - we will do everything to win this title."

When asked what he said to the players after Saturday's game, Mancini said: "Nothing because they were so tired.

"I said only, 'believe in yourselves' because we have seven games - 21 points. I think with 92 points we will win the title."

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