Manchester City arrange fans' Q&A.. but questions about Martin Demichelis aren't allowed
Mar 15, 2014 22:31
By Simon Mullock
Gaffe-prone defender off-limits to supporters coughing up £200-plus for gala dinner where they can quiz manager Manuel Pellegrini
Walk of shame: Sent-off Demichelis trudges away in home loss to Barcelona
Manchester City fans are paying over £200 for a question and answer session with Manuel Pellegrini –
but will be banned from asking about Argentine flop Martin Demichelis.
Pellegrini will be guest of honour at a gala dinner on Thursday night to celebrate City’s Capital One Cup Final triumph.
Tickets start at £200 plus VAT and diners will be given the opportunity to ask Pellegrnini about his first season at Manchester's Blues.
But Sunday Mirror Sport has learned that City do not want their manager grilled about Demichelis.
The 33-year-old centre-back has been regarded as a big disappointment by many since Pellegrini convinced City to pay Atletico Madrid £4.2million for a player who had been available on a Bosman free from Malaga just two months earlier.
His high-profile mistakes have contributed to City being knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona and the FA Cup by Championship side Wigan.
And supporters cannot understand why Pellegrini continues to persist with a player who is on the slide.
The City boss will be joined by development squad boss Patrick Vieira and chief executive Ferran Soriano.
But questions about Demichelis are off the agenda.
The veteran defender was sent off for a foul on Lionel Messi that allowed the Barcelona striker to give his side the edge from the penalty spot in their Champions League visit to the Etihad last month.
And Demichelis blundered again last Sunday when he conceded another crucial penalty in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Wigan.