Mancini blasts ‘incredible’ reports about training methods

ROBERTO MANCINI has defended his training methods, saying he finds it “incredible” that reports have suggested they are a divisive issue within the Manchester City squad.

Mancini enjoyed four straight wins after being appointed manager at Eastlands in December with the team netting 10 times and conceding only once, but since then things have been more of a struggle.

City go into tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round replay at Stoke with only two wins from their last seven matches. The Italian’s honeymoon period is well and truly over and rumours of unhappiness amongst the players about his approach to the job have risen to the fore in recent weeks.

However, although he admits his style may take some adjusting to, Mancini is keeping faith with his techniques and remains confident they are the right ones to deliver success.

“I read that the players are angry because I changed the time of the training sessions, that I changed (things) because we did more tactics,” Mancini said.

“I read these things, but these are our players. I changed the time of the training because 11 o’clock is too cold and the pitch is frozen. I don’t know the other history (of training). For me, everything is normal. I understand that it might not be their habit to work in that tactical situation, but this is my opinion – I work in this mode.’’

For many, the anti-climax of Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Champions League rivals Liverpool – in which they only had one meaningful effort on target – summed up the problems City are experiencing under Mancini.

But midfielder Gareth Barry has since insisted that the squad are training well and are right behind the manager, something Mancini feels was actually vindicated by the performance against Liverpool.

“For me it is incredible when I read that I have a problem with some players. I read a newspaper yesterday night and Gareth Barry said the right things – that they work very well on the pitch,” Mancini said.

“For me, if they didn’t work very well in the past week, against Liverpool we wouldn’t have played with this tactical situation.’’

Mancini will again be without Carlos Tevez tonight, but confirmed he expects the striker to return to the club on Thursday or Friday.

Argentina international Tevez was given compassionate leave and allowed to return to his homeland earlier this month due to complications with his wife Vanesa’s pregnancy. The couple’s baby daughter has been in intensive care after being born prematurely and up until this week it had been unclear when Tevez was likely to come back.

Mancini appeared to be at a loss on the matter following the match against Liverpool, but on Monday Tevez’s adviser Kia Joorabchian insisted the player was hopeful of returning for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

Yesterday, Mancini indicated that having spoken to Tevez, he was convinced he would be available for the match at Stamford Bridge.

“I spoke with him yesterday and I think that he will come back on Thursday or Friday morning,” Mancini said, before adding: “I am sure.”