Mancini – We must up our game

Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City must up their game if they are to see off the threat of Blackpool on Sunday.

City head to the North West coast second in the top flight, having registered three wins on the bounce against Wigan, Chelsea and Newcastle.

But Mancini is taking nothing for granted against the Premier League newcomers, whose attacking brand of football under Ian Holloway has already gleaned 10 points from their opening seven fixtures.

The City boss said: “I have watched Blackpool three or four times and this will be a very tough game.

“I have a lot of respect for them. If we want to win there we must play better than we did against Chelsea.

“They play good football. What I like is that they don’t just defend and wait for something to happen just because they don’t want to concede a goal.
Different way

“They play in a different way because they want to score.

“That is a good thing for the manager. And the manager is good anyway.”

Meanwhile, Mancini insists there is no bad blood with his captain after he had “a healthy discussion” with Carlos Tevez during half-time in the win over Newcastle.

Indeed, he believes such heated exchanges can have a hugely positive effect on a dressing room.

“I had arguments with my team-mates and managers. It is important,” he said.

“When I have done it as a manager myself, sometimes it is calculated to get a reaction from a player.

Right mentality

“Against Chelsea we played with the right mentality because we knew they were a strong team.

“We concentrated 100 per cent, played very well and achieved the result we wanted.

“But when we play against Newcastle, if we think they are worse than Chelsea it is a big mistake. If you think like that you cannot possibly play 100 per cent.”

While he knows Blackpool will have a go at his side, Mancini believes opponents in general are being far more cautious about facing City.

“Every game in the Premier League is difficult, especially for us because the way people play against Manchester City has changed,” he said.

“Maybe 15 years ago, all the teams that came to play against us tried to win.

“Now they come to defend because they are afraid.”