Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has given his State of the Blue Nation address ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final. The Italian tactician is in a determined mood…
But he is adamant nobody should under estimate Stoke City:
‘To think Stoke are an easy team would be a mistake…Stoke are a strong team and a very difficult team…Saturday will be harder than United.’
There is clearly no margin for error and if The Citizens are to register the club’s first trophy in 35 years, then concentration will be paramount.
‘If we want to win we need to play very well. We should pay attention in every situation. We cannot concede anything.’
Exuding calm yet again, Mancio appears quietly confident that City can begin to realise long held dreams.
‘We have achieved one piece of history by going into the Champions League. Now it is time we won a title. It is important we start to do this as quickly as we can.’
The Blues boss has almost an entire fully fit squad available to him which is something of a rarity after 56 competitive games across a gruelling season.
He revealed today that Carlos Tévez will undergo a late fitness test on Saturday morning and that Gareth Barry is now fit again. Both players have had hamstring injuries.
Finally the gaffer had this to say for the players he has bonded into a tight unit and Saturday itself:
‘I’m excited by this cup final and very proud for my players. I always saw this game on TV in Italy?Manchester United against Chelsea and I watched when Harry Redknapp won with Portsmouth…This is a very important moment for me in my career. The FA Cup is very important, it is my first final and the first time Manchester City have been in it for a long time. It will be a special day.’
FOLLOW CITY IN THE FA CUP FINAL WITH VMC:
Join the debate in the VMC City Chat Forum
for the build up and beyond to City’s first FA Cup Final appearance in 30 years. For McDonald, Gow and Hutchison read Zabaleta, De Jong and er, Johnson?
VMC ON YOUTWITFACE:
VMC is now available on both Facebook and Twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!
VMC on:
VMC on:
JOIN VMC:
It’s easy to REGISTER HERE, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved!