Mancini set to axe Balotelli

Roberto Mancini is set to axe Mario Balotelli for Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Blues boss left Eastlands an angry man last night, raging at Dynamo Kiev and Balotelli, who was sent off as City crashed out of the Europa League.

Mancini was fuming at the time–wasting tactics of the Ukrainian side.

City won 1-0 courtesy of an Aleksandar Kolarov strike, but lost the tie 2-1 on aggeragate.

But that fury was matched with the anger Mancini reserved for Balotelli, who was sent off after 36 minutes for a ridiculous challenge on Goran Popov.

Right in front of both the referee and his assistant, Balotelli put his studs into the chest of the Dynamo defender, then shoved them into his thigh.

And it seems Mancini's patience has finally snapped with a player who seems incapable of behaving responsibly.

"I don't think he will be in the squad," said the Italian as he looked ahead to the Chelsea clash.

"I didn't see the foul properly but I am very disappointed.”

Adam Johnson made his return from an ankle injury, replacing Gareth Barry in the second half, and will be in contention for Sunday.