Sergio: Don't judge Balo by pitch antics

Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by The Sun

SERGIO AGUERO has sprung to the defence of strike pal Mario Balotelli.

The Manchester City hitman faces a four-game ban after being charged with violent conduct for allegedly deliberately stamping on Scott Parker's head.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was fuming after the incident during City's dramatic 3-2 win on Sunday.

But team-mate Aguero insists Super Mario is a 'lovely lad'. The Argentine striker said: "Firstly we all know what a fantastic player he is. And off the pitch, everyone has their own path.

"But those of us who are really close to Mario know that off the field he's a really good lad.

"Like a lot of players he has his own idiosyncrasies here and there.

"Everyone knows him as a player from what you see on the field. But I know that off the field he's a lovely lad.

"He's a young lad, he takes care of himself and approaches his life as he wants."

Team-mate James Milner says the Italian's madcap antics help take the pressure off City ahead of big games.

Police famously visited Balotelli's home on the eve of the Manchester derby in October after reports that fireworks were being let off in a bathroom.

Milner said: "Mario is good to have around the place. He scores important goals and hopefully can score a few more winners between now and the end of the season.

"Is it a welcome distraction? Maybe, as long as it is at the right time. You can always rely on Mario to set some fireworks off to get the headlines.

"He is just very confident in his own ability. He has lots of that. He is fun to have around the place.

"I don't think I have done an interview this season without being asked about him. It sums up what a character he is."

Balotelli shrugged off the controversy surrounding his clash with Parker to win and convert the last-gasp penalty that gave City their victory.

That left Roberto Mancini's table-toppers three points clear of Manchester United — and gave them an eight-point lead over Spurs in third.

Milner, who has also taken on spot-kick duties this season, says Balotelli is the undisputed penalty king at the Etihad.

He added: "I wouldn't have wanted anyone else but Mario to be in that position. He is definitely the best I have seen. He takes them like that in training.

"It doesn't matter whether there is any pressure on him or not. I have seen him take 60 or 70 penalties against Joe Hart, who is no slouch between the sticks.

"Joe has only saved one — and when he did he was jumping around because he had saved it. He just waits for the keeper and makes it impossible for him to save it. I had full confidence in him that he would put that away."

City hope their win over Tottenham will be the perfect tonic going into tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final at Liverpool.

The league leaders need to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and Aguero says he would love to play at Wembley.

And he also revealed he regularly watched Liverpool matches as a kid as his hero was former Kop idol Michael Owen.

He said: "It would be nice to play in a final. We'll be giving everything we've got.

"We know it's going to be tough, we'll be going out to try and get to Wembley."

Aguero's admiration for Owen came from his famous goal against Argentina at the World Cup in France in 1998.

He added: "I wasn't so much a fan of Liverpool but one of the players who was my idol when I was a lad was Michael Owen.

"He was quite small and had an eye for goal, just like me. When Liverpool were winning trophies, I was looking out for them because Owen was doing well.

"It's ever since he scored against Argentina in '98, although I wasn't too happy at the time. But getting that goal didn't stop me from admiring him."