Roberto Mancini: Manchester City title is next up for City! - 7M sport

Roberto Mancini: Manchester City title is next up for City!



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Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Roberto Mancini: Manchester City title is next up for City!
ABOVE: Roberto Mancini is eyeing the leaue title

ROBERTO MANCINI ordered the title next as the Manchester City boss became the biggest party pooper at Wembley.

Yaya Toure’s strike not only won City the FA Cup against Stoke City but ended a 35-year silverware drought.

Mancini, though, immediately switched his attention to Tuesday night’s Premier League clash with Stoke and revealed his players wouldn’t be drinking before then.

But the Italian boss did raise an imaginary glass to gunning down Arsenal for third place – and then warning new champions United that they are in his sights, too, next season.

Mancini, whose players carried a 0-0 banner in answer to the famous 35 rolling years flag at Old Trafford, said: “We want to try now for the title.

“It’s now better for all the people in Manchester tonight and next year we will see.

“We can try to play for the top with the other teams.

“It was time for that banner to come down. It was also important to start to win.

“We got into the Champions League and that was our first target. Now we have won the FA Cup.

“In England there are three competitions – the Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. We have won the FA Cup but we need to improve more to go to the next step.

“The first step is always the hardest. We can now say congratulations to all of our players for everything they have done this year.

“We now have two more games and we would like to see if it was possible to get third position.

“But will I have a drink tonight? No, no. No drinks. And the players know we should play in three days.

“It is important to finish third in the Premier League.”

Mancini reserved special praise for turbulent striker Mario Balotelli – and revealed he had planned to substitute him if he couldn’t handle the pressure.

Balotelli was floored by a Robert Huth elbow in the first half but didn’t lose his cool, much to the delight of the boss.

Mancini added: “Balotelli played very well. This trophy will be important for him because it can help him improve as a man, as a player. It was difficult for Mario. I said to him before the game that if he was nervous we would play him for 50 minutes and then take him off the pitch.

“He is a big talent. He can’t lose that big talent.

“And he played well against a Stoke team who are very strong. It was very difficult to beat them even though we had a lot of chances to score.

“I thought too that Carlos Tevez was also important for the team today.

“And Yaya Toure has now scored in the semi-final and final. He’s a very incredible player.”

Toure spoke of his regret that his brother Kolo was not part of the team.

And he dedicated his goal to Kolo, who has been suspended pending an investigation since March after testing positive for a specified substance.

Yaya said: “We have created a little bit of history for the club by winning a trophy for the first time in 35 years and we are so happy.

“But I am a little bit sad for my brother because I could see it in his eyes he wanted to be part of the team.

“I dedicate my goal to him because this season he has had a lot of problems.

“He will be joining us at the hotel and I am very pleased about that.

“I just love Wembley. To score the all-important goal against a strong team like Stoke is very special.

“We deserved to win this game because we created a lot of chances and played so well. This win is fantastic for us.”

Delighted keeper Joe Hart said: “Winning feels amazing.

“Getting into the Champions League on Tuesday night was an amazing feeling and obviously this is an amazing feeling too.

“Great season, great people and great fans. Buzzing.

“The Champions League is important for the club.

“And getting a trophy that shuts everyone up is important for the fans and for us.

“It was what we wanted to do but it’s easier said than done and we’ve gone out and done it.

“I’m pretty sure there are a few people who didn’t want us to do it but we’ve done it – so who cares?”

City broke with tradition to honour former secretary Bernard Holford, who was ushered up the Wembley steps to receive a medal to honour 50 years working behind the scenes.



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