City boss Roberto Mancini’s son rise
Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by thesun.co.uk
Ride on ... Roberto Mancini gets on his bike
Roberto Mancini admits he dare not flop in front of his biggest critic tonight.
The Manchester City boss will be watched by father Aldo, 75, as the club make their Champions League bow against Napoli.
It will be the first time Mancini Snr has been in the crowd since his boy took charge at the Etihad in December 2009.
He suffered a serious heart attack last year and Roberto has headed home to Ancona to visit him at every opportunity.
Mancini Jr has a reputation as a hard-to-please perfectionist at City — and it sounds like he is a chip off the old block.
Roberto said: "My father has always been my biggest critic both as a manager and when I was a player. He criticised me every time I played.
"But this is important because if your father says these things it means they are true. And for me it is important to improve, always. His health is good now. He is getting better and he is OK. But he can't play against Napoli!
"It will be a special moment with my father being here. He was my first supporter and he pushed me in football.
"When I was a child, we were Juventus supporters and we went together to watch them play and watch Torino as well.
"He still gets agitated when he watches our games — sometimes he criticises me.
Aldo himself said: "It is true what Roberto says, I have always been his biggest critic. It was the same when he was a player as it is now, as a manager."
Both Mancinis know all about the threat posed by Napoli — and in particular their three forwards Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.
The City boss added: "In this group there are four teams who can win the group or finish fourth.
"The expectation is normal for us because now Manchester City is one of the best teams in England — and Europe, I hope."
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