Mancini praises 'important but surprising' City win

Posted Monday, April 04, 2011 by BBC.com

Mancini praises 'important but surprising' City win
Mancini's side are closing in on a Champions League place

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted that the margin of his side's resounding win over Sunderland surprised him.

City, who move six points clear of Spurs in the chase for a Champions League spot, thrashed the Black Cats 5-0 at Eastlands.

"I am surprised but I am happy. It is important that we scored five goals," said Mancini.

"We always play to win. If we continue like this we'll finish very well."

Goals from Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure leapfrogged City above Chelsea in the league, with the kind of attacking display not usually associated with Mancini's side.

"It was important for us to win this game because we had the chance to go into third position," Mancini said.

"Before the game I thought it would be difficult because it is not easy to beat Sunderland.

"They are a strong team who work very well and their manager [Steve Bruce] knows everything. But we started the game brightly and that was important.

"It is possible that it will give us confidence for our remaining games. It is important now that we continue and go to Liverpool and win next Monday."

Mancini also claimed that Johnson, who scored on his first start after returning from injury, could spearhead City's charge for a Champions League spot.

"When we lost Adam, that's when our problems started," said the Italian. "He is the one player we have who can change a game. Adam is very important to us."

With an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United looming, Mancini doesn't believe that City's good form will concern United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Ferguson knows the FA Cup semi-final is one game in which anything can happen, and I think he knows Manchester City very well - like we know Manchester United. It's a one-off."