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Roberto Mancini gives instructions to Micah Richards
Roberto Mancini defends tactics after Micah Richards comments
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has defended his tactical switches after Micah Richards raised concerns about playing with three centre-backs.
Richards claimed Mancini's decision to switch from 4-4-2 during the Champions League defeat at Ajax killed City's chances of claiming victory.
But Mancini said: "If you are a top player it is not important what system you use.
"If you don't understand a system like that, you cannot play for a top team."
City were leading 1-0 through Samir Nasri in Amsterdam before goals from Siem de Jong and Niklas Moisander swung the game in favour of the Dutch champions.
Mancini then instructed his players to switch formation in a bid to rescue the Group D game.
But home midfielder Christian Eriksen scored to seal a 3-1 victory to leave bottom-placed City facing an uphill task to reach the last 16 after taking one point from three games.
Afterwards, Richards admitted the Premier League champions were uncomfortable with the three centre-back formation, saying they preferred to play 4-4-2.
Mancini added: "What Micah said is not important. He answered a question. I understand people want to write about it, but to me it doesn't matter.
"Maybe Micah doesn't know because it was his first game for two-and-a-half months."
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Comment number 264.
New Victorians27th October 2012 - 18:07
I'm not a City supporter but I support every Premier League side in Europe and I think that it'd be good to consider that Manchester City played 70 minutes, three quarters of the previous away game, with ten players. Good luck in your next game!
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Comment number 263.
Jammy-27th October 2012 - 13:47
@244
Actually, Chelsea have picked up 10 more points than in the same fixtures last season, as we didn't beat Newcastle, Arsenal, Wigan or Tottenham and we beat them all this time around.
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Comment number 262.
bajandrifter27th October 2012 - 13:26
Does anyone think the players at City have respect for Mancini? I would say no. There is no mutual respect between himself and and team and without that they will win nothing this year. Most city players are great footballers but not great professionals. Look at Wenger and Fergie neither of them stand for such behaviour and it all started witb the Tevez affair
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Comment number 261.
jamegumb27th October 2012 - 12:55
you bring a bunch of superstars to a club like man city who have no worldwide reputation, no glorious history they simply dont care enough about the club to muster up the stomach for a fight...if it was barcelona not man city they would be expected to graft and uphold long established traditions....they are only there for the money not because they respect city.
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Comment number 260.
WordsofWisdom27th October 2012 - 12:02
Mancini's problem is that he hasn't got control of his players. There was the Tevez debacle last season and the ongoing problems with Balotelli but also several incidents of players remonstrating with the manager when substituted and throwing tantrums. Now Mancini has to contend with his players criticising his tactics in the media. He's proving weak in managing the egos and that can be fatal.
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Comments 5 of 264