Mancini: Man City beginning critical run of games

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes the next five games will determine the outcome of the Citizens season.

The Italian boss suffered his second league defeat in charge of the club on Saturday when the Citizens went down 2-1 at Hull, dealing a blow to their hopes of Champions League football next season.

"We played very hard and we must continue like the second half," he said. "If we continue in this way we can improve but we must recover all of our players now, this is most important.

"February, this month, is a crucial moment with games against Bolton, Stoke, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham."

Mancini has been frustrated by the number of injuries he has encountered since taking over, particularly in defence.

"I have many players injured and it's difficult for me," he said. "If I have three, four, five players always injured it's a big problem so we want changes in this situation because then we have a good chance to play well both at home and away.

"If we want to arrive at our targets we must also be able to play well away."

In the league, Mancini has mostly faced games against teams at the bottom end of the table since coming to City, and therefore games his side were expected to win.

"When City play against Bolton or Hull or Wolverhampton they plays always at 200%, but this is good for us because we are growing now and when clubs play against us they are playing against a top squad," he said.

"If we want to be up there we must play at the same level. They fight for every ball so we must change our mentality."

Mancini has been impressed by the Trotters under new manager Owen Coyle.

"I watched Bolton's last three or four games and they have played very well, very aggressively, and changed mentality under a good manager," he said.

"We must concentrate at 100% because it will be a difficult game.

"Two weeks ago they were 2-0 up (after half an hour) against Arsenal in London and this is important because it shows they play very aggressively.

"This match is very important because after we go to Stoke, which could be a battle, and after that we start playing important matches against Liverpool and Chelsea, so it is important we win this game."

 
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