Story highlights
Roberto Mancini sees his Manchester City team crash out of the League Cup
City were beaten 4-2 after extra time at the Etihad Stadium by Aston Villa
City's Italian boss clashed with rival manager Paul Lambert on the touchline during the match
Mancini: "It's better that some managers shut up"
Roberto Mancini cut a frustrated figure during a post-match press conference for the second Tuesday in a row after watching his Manchester City team surrender a lead for the third time in as many games.
English champions City crashed out of the League Cup, losing 4-2 to Aston Villa after extra time in a match which saw Mancini clash with opposite number Paul Lambert.
City lost the match despite twice being in the lead, just as they did in a recent European Champions League tie with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
After that defeat Mancini criticized goalkeeper Joe Hart, with Villa manager Lambert this time the focus of the Italian’s ire.
“I am tired with this manager because I didn’t say anything,” Mancini said of Lambert in a post-match press conference. “I asked the fourth official if it was a yellow card without moving my hands,” added the Italian, referring to a Joe Bennett tackle on Gareth Barry.
“He [Lambert] comes up to me every time but after this some managers go to bigger stadiums and don’t say anything. I am tired of this, very tired. I am tired with their behaviour.
“It’s better that some managers shut up because I didn’t speak with this manager. I asked the fourth official if it was a yellow card and I thought the referee had left his yellow cards in the dressing room.”
The 47-year-old Italian has been no stranger to touchline confrontations during his time in English football.
In May, Mancini was involved in a heated exchange with Alex Ferguson during City’s 1-0 win against archrivals Manchester United.
The Italian’s team have made a stuttering start to the season, having conceded 18 goals in nine matches and sit seventh in the Premier League after picking up just nine points from five games following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
The former Inter Milan coach admitted City’s defence is his greatest concern at the moment.
“We need to work with our defenders because they don’t work well in this moment. We need to work, only this,” added Mancini.
“It’s the fourth competition but it’s the only competition that we didn’t win. For this we wanted to stay in this cup because in two years we’ve won everything and we’re missing this cup. We are so disappointed for this.”
Mancini will be hoping City can close the four-point gap to current Premier League leaders this weekend, when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage.
