English Premier League: City in with a chance to close the gap

Holders to face Reading today; Wenger keen on player development.

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will be hoping a new air of togetherness can help his team pile the pressure on Manchester United with a win over Reading today.

City are six points behind leaders United after a 3-2 defeat against Alex Ferguson’s side earlier this month. The champions responded to that setback with an impressive 3-1 win at Newcastle last weekend to keep pace with United, but even that success was quickly tempered by off-field distractions.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli threatened to take City to a Premier League tribunal as he attempted to avoid paying a fine of two weeks wages for his poor disciplinary record last season. But hours before the hearing Balotelli, who was dropped for the Newcastle match, agreed to pay the fine.

“We need to have all the players this month as we have a lot of games in two weeks,” said Mancini. “Mario needs to train. When he starts to show his quality, he will play again.”

City defender Gael Clichy admitted his side’s approach has been rightly criticised at times this season, but believes the performance at St James’ Park signalled a significant improvement.

“People expect better from City but so do we,” said Clinchy. “Sometimes the spirit has not been there but against Newcastle it was definitely there.”

Captain Vincent Kompany should return from a hamstring problem against Reading, but Samir Nasri, Aleksander Kolarov, James Milner and Micah Richards will all miss out, while Jack Rodwell is out until the new year after suffering a set back with his own hamstring injury.

Wenger keen on improving

Arsene Wenger has rejected claims the Arsenal board have failed to back him in the transfer market and indicated he is only interested in signing ‘exceptional’ players in January.

“What is important is this team develops in the way we want to play,” said Wenger. “I saw some interesting aspects on Monday night at Reading. Let’s see how far this team can go. If we can add one or two exceptional players, we will do it. What we do not want to do is add players just because people put us under pressure to buy players.”

Five players, including young England players Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, signed new deals this week to keep them at the Emirates Stadium on a long-term basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2012.