Mancini: Newcastle tougher than United
Source: Agencies |
May 5, 2012, Saturday
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MANCHESTER City's visit to in-form Newcastle United tomorrow will be more difficult than last Monday's match against title rival Manchester United, according to manager Roberto Mancini.
The Italian said fifth-placed Newcastle would approach the game against Premier League leader City in an extremely confident mood after its 2-0 victory at Champions League finalist Chelsea on Wednesday.
"Newcastle played a fantastic game at Chelsea and I think this game will be more difficult for us," Mancini told reporters yesterday. "The Manchester United game was at home and we played very well to win 1-0 but Newcastle is away and I think it will be harder."
The two Manchester clubs are locked together on 83 points with two games left to play this season, with City top on goal difference.
Mancini said City would keep a particularly close eye on red-hot Senegal striker Papiss Cisse on Sunday.
"Cisse is incredible," said the Italian. "He scored two fantastic goals against Chelsea. He has 13 goals in 12 league games for Newcastle and he's a good player. But not just him, their whole team is playing very well.
"They play to win in every game, they have a good mentality and for this reason I think it will be a good game on Sunday."
United entertains Swansea City and Mancini dismissed the suggestion that Manchester City would be under more pressure because it plays first on Sunday.
"Our players know they have everything in their own hands," he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea captain John Terry has given interim manager Roberto Di Matteo his stamp of approval as the club prepares for tonight's FA Cup final challenge against Liverpool.
"We're very passionate about the club. He cares for the club immensely, which is great, and that's certainly rubbed off on the players," Terry said.
"So, he's been a revelation, really, since he took over. He shows that he cares and the passion shows in the team meetings and on the training field when things don't go well.
"He's got a great rapport with the fans, a great understanding with the players. He's communicating with everyone and things have gone very well for us. So, he deserves a huge amount of credit for that."
Di Matteo has overseen a dramatic transformation in Chelsea's fortunes since taking over from sacked predecessor Andre Villas-Boas in March, guiding the club to the FA Cup and Champions League finals. But his future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.
The Italian said fifth-placed Newcastle would approach the game against Premier League leader City in an extremely confident mood after its 2-0 victory at Champions League finalist Chelsea on Wednesday.
"Newcastle played a fantastic game at Chelsea and I think this game will be more difficult for us," Mancini told reporters yesterday. "The Manchester United game was at home and we played very well to win 1-0 but Newcastle is away and I think it will be harder."
The two Manchester clubs are locked together on 83 points with two games left to play this season, with City top on goal difference.
Mancini said City would keep a particularly close eye on red-hot Senegal striker Papiss Cisse on Sunday.
"Cisse is incredible," said the Italian. "He scored two fantastic goals against Chelsea. He has 13 goals in 12 league games for Newcastle and he's a good player. But not just him, their whole team is playing very well.
"They play to win in every game, they have a good mentality and for this reason I think it will be a good game on Sunday."
United entertains Swansea City and Mancini dismissed the suggestion that Manchester City would be under more pressure because it plays first on Sunday.
"Our players know they have everything in their own hands," he said.
Meanwhile, Chelsea captain John Terry has given interim manager Roberto Di Matteo his stamp of approval as the club prepares for tonight's FA Cup final challenge against Liverpool.
"We're very passionate about the club. He cares for the club immensely, which is great, and that's certainly rubbed off on the players," Terry said.
"So, he's been a revelation, really, since he took over. He shows that he cares and the passion shows in the team meetings and on the training field when things don't go well.
"He's got a great rapport with the fans, a great understanding with the players. He's communicating with everyone and things have gone very well for us. So, he deserves a huge amount of credit for that."
Di Matteo has overseen a dramatic transformation in Chelsea's fortunes since taking over from sacked predecessor Andre Villas-Boas in March, guiding the club to the FA Cup and Champions League finals. But his future at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain.
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