Mancini rallies City for testing run-in

MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini feels his side need to come through eight “Champions League finals” to claim a place in Europe’s elite competition.

City missed the chance to seize the initiative in the race for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League as Everton ended their unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win at Eastlands on Wednesday.

But City, who play fourth-placed Tottenham in their penultimate game of the season, still control their own fate and Mancini has spelled out the task ahead of Monday’s clash with Wigan.

The Italian said: “I just want the players to treat every game like it’s a Champions League final and always give 200% for the team. This is the only way we can improve and get to where we want to be.”

Wednesday was also an eventful night off the field as the game ended with an extraordinary touchline scuffle between Mancini and opposite number David Moyes.

Mancini was yesterday charged with improper conduct by the FA for his role in the confrontation. He has until April 6 to respond.

The bust-up was sparked by Moyes catching the ball, an action Mancini considered time-wasting. There have also been reports of two other unrelated incidents surrounding the game.

The first concerns an apparent row in the directors’ box between City chief executive Garry Cook and businessman George Downing, who was a guest of Everton.

Neither club have commented on the matter officially but it is thought the matter has been resolved and is considered closed.

Mancini’s prime concern is getting back to winning ways after what he felt was a positive performance against Everton, in spite of the result.

He said: “It’s difficult sometimes, but we’ve all been playing football a long time and we know that occasionally, these things can happen.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez played down Mancini’s spat with Moyes.

“It was clearly a reaction full of passion and full of determination from a manager with a winning mentality,’’ Martinez said.

“But I never felt he lost control and everything was dealt with in good spirits after the game.”

City, meanwhile, have handed a new four-year contract to 19-year-old Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata.