WIGAN: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is demanding a return to the ruthless accuracy from his strikers that fired the club to their first league title since 1968 in May.
City travel to Wigan tonight after a stalemate at Chelsea on Sunday left them a point behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League. No rivals possess a stronger strike force than City’s attacking roster of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, all of whom were given a chance to break the Chelsea deadlock.
“I don’t know how many times we crossed (at Chelsea) and didn’t have any players in the box, this can’t happen,” said Mancini. “We have four good strikers but I want them to work harder and to score when they have a chance.
Chelsea fans demand Benitez apology
The chairperson of Chelsea’s supporters group Trizia Fiorellino has said that new manager Rafael Benitez must apologise to the fans for comments he made while in charge of Liverpool, ahead of their derby clash against Fulham tonight.
“I think an apology would help,” said Fiorellino. “An acceptance could definitely bring some people back on board.”
Chelsea have now gone five games without a league win, but Fulham’s form has been scarcely better, with Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Stoke City extending their own run of matches without victory to five as well.
United tackle West Ham
Meanwhile, for United, who host West Ham, the concern is the frequency with which Alex Ferguson’s team have had to come back from behind this season.
Ferguson also has problems on the flanks, with Nani out with a hamstring injury and Antonio Valencia doubtful due to a hip problem.
“We’ll see what Antonio is like,” said Ferguson. “We’ve got plenty of options in the midfield and up front — it’s just the two wide positions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2012.
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