Mancini- Ive had worse weeks

Last updated : 30 September 2011 By Team Talk

The Italian said that having to deal with such incidents - Tevez has been suspended by Manchester City after apparently refusing to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in midweek - was all part of a manager's job.

The club refused to allow direct questions about Tevez to be directed at Mancini at his pre-match press conference today, and he also did his best to downplay the ongoing drama.

Asked if this has been the toughest week of his managerial career, Mancini said: "No, no, absolutely no. Why is it difficult? Some situations can happen in football, in your job. It's important that the past is finished.

"I don't have any complications. Only one complication that we had two days ago is that we lost against Bayern Munich, only this. We started very well we can do a fantastic season, I don't have this problem.

"It is normal that one player is not happy to leave the pitch in an important game or to stay on the bench, it's a normal situation for every manager."

The Italian also dismissed suggestions that he had been embroiled in a similar incident as a player for Sampdoria in 1995.

Then, Mancini had walked off the field after not being given a penalty, was ordered back on by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and was promptly sent off a couple of minutes later. He ended up being banned for six weeks.

"I was sent off," said Mancini. "When I went to Sven I said 'change me, if not the referee will send me off'. He said 'no, stay on'. After five minutes I did a foul and the referee showed the red card."

Mancini's task now is to make sure the rest of Manchester City's star-studded squad are not distracted and continued their unbeaten Premier League record at Blackburn on Saturday.

At least the incident in Munich with Edin Dzeko has been put to bed and the Bosnian striker may now get a starting role against Blackburn after apologising for his angry reaction to being substituted in midweek.

"We didn't have any problem with Edin, it was finished on Thursday morning, our focus is on Blackburn," added Mancini.

Nigel de Jong is likely to be on the bench again and though Adam Johnson is back in training after an ankle injury it may be to soon for him.

There will certainly be some changes from the side who lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich, though, Mancini confirmed, which means possible returns for English trio Gareth Barry, James Milner and Joleon Lescott.

"Tomorrow will be like against Fulham," said Mancini, referring to the 2-2 draw at the Cottage.

"Blackburn are a strong team that play very well - they beat Arsenal recently.

"Maybe we will change some players because we want to be fresh. We need to change something between Champions League games and Premier League games."

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk