LA Galaxy say Mario Balotelli’s stunt belongs in the ‘Beer League’

Posted Tuesday, July 26, 2011 by The Sun

MARIO BALOTELLI has been told the stunt he pulled against LA Galaxy on Sunday belongs in the 'Beer League'.

Manchester City's Italian bad-boy stunned everyone in the Home Depot Center with his outrageous piece of show-boating.

Balotelli was clean through on goal when he tried a pirouette and back-heel before his effort rolled tamely wide.

It drew boos from the crowd and infuriated City boss Roberto Mancini, who immediately replaced him with James Milner.

The prestige friendly against David Beckham's side was only half an hour in and City were leading thanks to Balotelli's spot-kick.

And the Americans felt the bare-faced cheek of the 20-year-old Italian had no place against a team who are leading their MLS division.

Mike Magee, who scored Galaxy's second-half equaliser, said: "We were all pretty impressed with the way Mancini handled it. That said it all really.

"Our coach Bruce Arena would have done the same, I'm sure. You can say it's a friendly but you don't want to see that out on the pitch.

"Maybe in the beer league or something things like that go on. But not at our level.

"We're a good enough team and even though we're a step below the EPL we know we're a good side.

"If we were losing 8-0 and he'd done that we might have had a whack at him.

"But we ran them close all game so I'm not sure he was being disrespectful."

The LA team were left baffled by Balotelli's brainstorm and some wondered if the £23million forward had thought he was offside.

Magee added: "It seemed like he was having a bit of fun or messing around. But at the same time I don't know if he thought he was offside.

"I think that's what he tried to tell his manager. The way he finished it you can only hope he thought that.

"If he didn't, then it's a bit much I think."

Balotelli's team-mate Milner, who was immediately told to strip and get ready to go on, admitted they wished Balotelli had just put the chance away.

The former Newcastle man said: "Obviously I would like him to put that into the back of the net.

"But Mario is Mario, he does some strange things sometimes.

"Hopefully he will get better and maybe learn from these sort of experiences."

City great Joe Corrigan branded striker Balotelli "unprofessional and immature" over his outrageous backheel stunt.

Corrigan made more than 500 appearances for the club and is rated as one of their finest goalkeepers.

He said: "Mancini was right to give him a rocket because what he did was impetuous and immature - it sent out the wrong message.

"I accept he's a young lad making his way, but he's got to be shown the right way if he's going to make the most of his tremendous talent.

"I think Mancini is right not to take it any further because it was a friendly and it didn't cost the team anything in terms of points or prestige.

"But he needed to realise what he did was unprofessional and taking him off did the trick. I've heard the suggestion that he thought he might have been offside but you still play to the whistle.

"No one ever tried anything like that against me - it made me laugh because he ended up with egg on his face."

Former City midfielder Gary Owen claimed Mancini had to respond decisively because there is already a feeling he has been too lenient with the Italian hothead in the past.

Owen said: "Mancini has stood by him many, many times - to the extent that many players may even feel he has been favoured by the treatment he's been given.

"He is never far from controversy.

"And it has come to the stage where whether you are a young player or an experienced performer you have to do what the manager expects. If you are five or six goals up you can afford to showboat a bit - but not in a tight game like this one.

"Pre-season games are all about preparing yourself for the real thing and the best way to do that is to go about things the way you would in competitive matches.

"Mancini was right to be so disappointed, because he wants to win every game.
"The manager has to show he is in charge."