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Rodgers hits out over Mancini comments claiming Man United could beat Swansea '10-0'
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
PUBLISHED: 16:31 GMT, 4 May 2012 | UPDATED: 17:28 GMT, 4 May 2012
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Brendan Rodgers has slammed 'disrespectful' Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for claiming Swansea would roll over for Manchester United on Sunday.
The Swansea boss has been left stunned by Mancini’s derogatory remarks, which started with a suggestion last week that title rivals United could beat the south Wales side '10-0' and continued with his insistence after Monday’s derby that Sir Alex Ferguson has 'two easy games' left this season.
'I think if you say it more than once it is (disrespectful),' Rodgers said.
'If you look at ourselves and the transition we have made from a Championship club into this level, the players have represented the club incredibly well in terms of the football we have played. Our analysis of our game, the preparation, the detail and commitment have been fantastic.
'It certainly won't be an easy game (for United) and I think he (Mancini) knows that.'
Rodgers, whose starting XI has been assembled for less than £10million, hit back at big-spending Mancini by reminding the Italian of Swansea’s 1-0 win over City at the Liberty Stadium in March.
'He came here when we won the game 1-0 and we were clearly the better side and that was after Roberto spent about £235million on a team.
'So I think he knows as well as anyone it won't be an easy game.'
Rodgers also believes Mancini is wasting his time if he thinks his words have had any effect on Swansea and United's preparations for Sunday's meeting, pointing out how experienced Sir Alex Ferguson and his men have historically proved to be in these situations.
'He is maybe trying to affect one or two things but it won't affect us,' he said.
'We only worry about ourselves and I don't think there is anyway in the world you can affect a group of players with the experience of Manchester United, and a manager who is a multiple winner.
'So certainly that comment, if it is to antagonise it won't work with us and it won't work with Manchester United.'
Impact: Gylfi Sigurdsson has starred at the Liberty Stadium
Twelfth-placed Swansea can already plan for a second season in the Premier League as the point garnered in last weekend's remarkable 4-4 draw with Wolves secured safety.
Rodgers has already held meetings with chairman Huw Jenkins over potential transfer targets for next term.
On-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson is one of the players Rodgers is keen to bring in.
The Iceland international has scored seven goals in 17 games since arriving from Hoffenheim, and has told the Bundesliga club he does not want to return to see out the final two years of his contract.
Reports have suggested that Swansea have had an initial offer rejected for the 22-year-old, but Rodgers would not be drawn on the subject and said he did not know what fee would be required to seal a permanent deal.
But he says his planning for the 2012-13 campaign is progressing well.
He said: 'I met with the chairman again this afternoon.
'It is ongoing. We have got a number of targets, we want to retain our hunger and at this level you have to always be striving to improve and we will be looking to bring in a number of players in order to do that.
'It is going be a tough season next season. We are no longer the newcomers to the league.
'We want to keep developing, our work is continual on and off the field. We want to prepare as quickly as we can and in order to do that we want to bring in hungry players for next season.'http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Roberto-Mancinis-disrespectful-comments.html
Brilliant stuff from Mancini. Give Swansea something to prove playing against United. For me Mancini this season has shown that he can not only cope with the mind games but that he quite actually enjoys them. :)