AlthamBlue
Well-Known Member
Andouble said:I yearn for the days of boring but winning football. I'd rather go back to that.
So does Bobby mate
Roberto Mancini will have no complaints if Manchester City's cautious approach rekindles their title dream.
The Blues have seen their claims to the Premier League crown dwindle over recent weeks, with arch-rivals Manchester United now five points clear at the top and eight ahead of their neighbours.
City have also played a game more than Sir Alex Ferguson's side, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to take the trophy.
A defence which has suddenly sprung a leak has been part of the problem for Mancini's men, with a once watertight back four now riddled with holes.
Resolving that problem is key to any late title tilt and Mancini acknowledges that City may need to bore their way back into the race.
"I would like this," said the Italian tactician.
"When you don't concede a goal but you have players like Carlos (Tevez), (Edin) Dzeko, (David) Silva and Yaya Toure, you win 90 per cent of your matches.
"At this moment, I would prefer it if we win 1-0 for two or three games. We would like to score two or three goals every game but it is not possible and in the past, all the teams that have won the title conceded very few goals."
Concentration
City have dropped five points in their last two games, against Aston Villa and Birmingham, but Mancini refuses to buy into the belief that his side struggle to maintain focus against the Premier League's lesser lights.
He said: "I don't think that is true. Maybe we are having more difficulty when you meet teams that are at the bottom but this is normal.
"Three weeks ago everything was good but now we are in a bad moment because we concede too many goals.
"Maybe some situations have gone against us but it is important we understand it and try to have more concentration."
Mancini is confident the gap separating City from United can still be closed, with the unbeaten Red Devils yet to endure a wobble this term.
"We have lost five points on United the last two games but it is possible they will lose two games," he said.
"They have to play against Chelsea twice, against Arsenal and against us so anything can happen.
"All the teams at the top are very strong - United, Arsenal and Chelsea - but we want to stay there."