Jose Mourinho is planning a showdown with Mario Balotelli

Posted Friday, August 31, 2012 by The Sun

JOSE MOURINHO branded Mario Balotelli ‘unmanageable’ when they were together at Inter Milan.

Now they will go to war in the Champions League Group of Death as Manchester City take on Real Madrid.

And Patrick Vieira admitted Balotelli is guaranteed to be fired up, as two of the most flamboyant characters in European football tangle at the Bernabeu in just over two weeks’ time.

City kick off their bid to reach Wembley on May 25 at the home of nine-time European champions Real.

They also have to see off Bundesliga winners Borussia Dortmund and Dutch giants Ajax in Group D.

All eyes will be on Balotelli and Mourinho, whose explosive relationship dominated headlines for two years at Inter.

Vieira, now the football development executive at the Etihad, represented the Premier League champions at the glitzy draw here.

He was a team-mate of Balotelli at the San Siro when the Special One was boss and had first-hand experience of their bitter fall-outs.

Vieira said: “Mario is Mario and Jose is Jose. One thing that is sure is that, facing Madrid, Dortmund and Ajax, Mario will want to play, perform and score goals.

“With how he played at Euro 2012 there is expectation for all of us in Mario. He was one of the best players. It doesn’t matter who we face, Mario will want to do well for the club.”

Mourinho dropped Balotelli on numerous occasions and, before leaving in 2010 after winning the Treble, once famously said the striker’s performance came ‘close to a zero rating’. Balotelli then followed Mourinho out of the club, as the situation for him there had become untenable.

Ironically, the man who had promoted Balotelli to the Inter first team was Mourinho’s predecessor — a certain Roberto Mancini.

Mourinho and Mancini have never seen eye to eye because of the controversial way the Italian was dismissed by Inter, despite winning three Serie A titles in a row.

Vieira, who worked with both at the Milan giants, paid a glowing tribute to the Real Madrid chief.

He added: “Wherever Jose has been, he has been successful — Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid.

The Premier League does not hold any secrets for him. He follows the Premier League 100 per cent. It will be a good match between Jose and Mancini, really exciting.

“As a football club, when you play in the Champions League you want these kind of games.”

Vieira admitted City face a monumental task to get out of the group.

He said: “It’s not easy at all. It is the most difficult group, as we are playing the Spanish, Dutch and German champions.

“I’m sure the players are really excited about going to the Bernabeu and the fantastic stadium of Dortmund and facing a big club like Ajax.” Mancini will be under pressure to do better than last season, when City crashed out at the group stage.

Vieira added: “I am sure Roberto will want to win the Champions League, as he has never won it as a player or manager. For the club it would be fantastic to reach the final but it is a really long way to go.”

He admitted expectations at City are sky-high after finally winning the FA Cup then the Premier League in successive seasons under Mancini.

Vieira said: “Winning the Premier League and having the experience in the Champions League will bring the belief we can win. The more you win, the more belief you have — not just the players, but the whole club.”

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