City coach all set for do-or-die Champions League clash vs Ajax
Roberto Mancini has told his Champions League flops they owe him “three big performances” ahead of Manchester City’s do-or-die clash with Ajax tonight.
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Mancini has already admitted City need “a miracle” to salvage their Group D campaign after taking just one point from their opening three games.
The Italian insisted he would not tolerate City crashing out of the Champions League with a whimper for a second successive season.
“You should play 100 per cent every game. It’s normal, no?” he said. “We have three games. We have to think only about Ajax at this moment and we will see what happens.”
Asked if his side owed him a big performance today, Mancini replied: “I think three big performances!” Indeed, the City boss revealed he would demand three improbable victories from his side against Ajax, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, which would see them complete a remarkable comeback to qualify.
Key fixtures:
>> Real Madrid vs Dortmund
>> Schalke vs Arsenalu00a0
Mancini annoyed by Monaco questions
Roberto Mancini has reacted angrily to further questions about his link with Monaco. Last week Mancini did not deny reports that he spoke to the Ligue 2 club last season and said he was “close to seven or eight teams”. When asked for clarification at a press conference yesterday morning, Mancini said: “I don’t understand why you continue to ask me (about) last year, last month. This is finished.
"Why? Why do you continue to ask me, ‘Last year you had a chance to go’? I stay here because my work is here. We won three trophies in two years. For 50 years we didn’t win. Never."