Mancini’s injury complaints likely to fall on deaf ears

FOR a team that has been assembled at a cost of around a quarter of a billion pounds, Manchester City’s claim that they are struggling with injuries and international call-ups will presumably fall on deaf ears in the New Year.

New manager Roberto Mancini was certainly inclined to try and play the sympathy card and it has taken him precisely five days as a Premier League manager to complain about the quantity of football played in this country.

“For me it’s not good that we have a game so quickly because we have so many players injured but this is English football,” said Mancini after winning his debut game 2-0 against Stoke. “But I am happy about how this game is gone and tomorrow we start preparing for Wolverhampton.”