Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has defended Mario Balotelli's poor timekeeping during their Europa League defeat at Dynamo Kiev.
Mancini blamed an allergic reaction for Balotelli's failure to appear on time for the second half as his side crashed in Kiev.
Manchester City claimed the £24million striker has an allergy to certain types of grass and had experienced swelling to his face. He was given two anti-hystamine shots at half-time and club medics considered giving him an injection of adrenaline.
Balotelli appeared to be sick by the side of the pitch and lasted only a few minutes of the second half before being replaced by Carlos Tevez.
Mancini said: "He had an allergy, I don't know what, his face was swollen.
"He wanted to come out for the second half but he had this problem 10 seconds before coming out for the second half. I came out one minute before the players and I didn't see Mario.
"A guy told me Mario had an allergy after he came out. Mario said, "I can play", but his face was swollen."
