Mancini wants City to focus

Mancini: Still targeting a top-four finish with Manchester City

Roberto Mancini has ordered his Manchester City team not to let the FA Cup distract their league form.

City memorably beat Manchester United in the semi-final of the cup and will now meet Stoke in next month’s final at Wembley.

It will provide them with an opportunity to end their 35-year wait for silverware and the anticipation of a famous win is swelling amongst their fans.

Yet, Mancini wants to check those thoughts as he prepares for a trip to Blackburn on Monday after their 3-0 drubbing at Anfield in their last away fixture.

“It has been a good week but now Manchester United is in the past,” said Mancini.

Focus

“We should forget it. Now we need to focus only on the next four games before the final.

“It is impossible to think of the final at this moment. We have games against Blackburn and West Ham, teams fighting against relegation. These matches are very dangerous.

“If we think we can go to Blackburn and play 50 per cent it is better we stay at home and not spend the money to go there.

“If we have the same focus as against United, the same concentration we will win a lot of games.

“That is important because we have lost many points in the last month. We must remember what happened at Liverpool.

Strong

“We must give 100 per cent because Blackburn are a strong team at home and it will be a very hard game.”

“It is impossible to think of the final at this moment. We have games against Blackburn and West Ham, teams fighting against relegation. These matches are very dangerous.”
Roberto Mancini Quotes of the week

Shaun Wright-Phillips is in his second spell as a City player and has overseen dramatic change during his tenure.

So perhaps, he is one of the best placed to evaluate how far the team have come under Mancini’s direction.

“The win over United tells you how far the club has come in such a short space of time and how far it can go,” he told Key 103.

“We have come to the point where we have beaten them in a semi-final and it is important we maintain this form.”