UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he hopes the Samir Nasri deal will be completed soon but his main focus is the Bolton Wanderers match

Record ID: 731413

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he hopes the Samir Nasri deal will be completed soon but his main focus is the Bolton Wanderers match
  • Date: 20th August 2011
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 19, 2011) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER CITY PLAYERS TRAINING AT THE CLUB'S ETIHAD STADIUM MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER ROBERTO MANCINI MIDFIELDER DAVID SILVA (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER ROBERTO MANCINI SAYING: "Bolton also last year were stronger, because they did (sic: had) a fantastic season and they have a good manager, they play football well and for me on Sunday if we want to win we should play very, very well, we have to play hard and fight for every ball" WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS DURING TRAINING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: STEFAN SAVIC; JOLEON LESCOTT; NIGEL DE JONG; AND JAMES MILNER MANCINI (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER ROBERTO MANCINI TALKING ABOUT SAMIR NASRI, SAYING: "I don't know, I hope that we can close the deal very quickly, but I don't know the latest news about him because my concentration (is) on the game" WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS LISTENING TO INSTRUCTIONS MANCINI WATCHING ON DURING TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER ROBERTO MANCINI TALKING ABOUT SERGIO AGUERO, SAYING: "I think that he needs to improve also because he finished the Copa America three weeks ago and for this I think that he is not 100 per cent at the moment. OK, he scored two fantastic goals because he knows his job, but I think that he needs to get to know his team-mates and for this he needs time"
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAT1UDB18ISZBLWF33HVYX67UM
  • Story Text: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is confident the deal to bring Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri to the Etihad Stadium will be completed "very quickly", but said on Friday (August 19) the match against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday (August 21) is his priority.
    "Bolton also last year were stronger, because they did (sic: had) a fantastic season and they have a good manager, they play football well and for me on Sunday if we want to win we should play very, very well, we have to play hard and fight for every ball," Mancini told a news conference.
    Nasri has 12 months left on his contract at the Gunners and looks set to follow Cesc Fabregas in leaving the club.
    Asked about the move, Mancini said: "I don't know, I hope that we can close the deal very quickly, but I don't know the latest news about him because my concentration (is) on the game."
    Mancini will decide on Saturday (August 20) whether new striker Sergio Aguero is ready to start Sunday's match after a dazzling debut as a substitute this week.
    Aguero came off the bench in the second half to score twice and set up another in Monday's (August 15) 4-0 win over Swansea City.
    Mancini said: "I think that he needs to improve also because he finished the Copa America three weeks ago and for this I think that he is not 100 per cent at the moment. OK he scored two fantastic goals because he knows his job, but I think that he needs to get to know his team-mates and for this he needs time."
    Midfielder Nigel de Jong faces a late fitness test after knocking his ankle in their league opener this week.
    Carlos Tevez, meanwhile, is mentally OK said Mancini, but is not fully fit just yet.
    "Because he worked very well in these (last) two weeks, when Carlos needs to play he always plays well and always 100 per cent. I think that he is not fit 100 per cent but his mind is OK," said Mancini.
    The City manager also revealed that he wants to bring in more players, but needs to sell some of his current squad first.
    "We have a problem because we don't sell other players, but we need others players to complete the squad, but until we sell the players that are here it's a problem."
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