Mancini still bullish

ROBERTO Mancini insists Manchester City will reach the FA Cup final and claim a place in next season’s Champions League after taking responsibility for last night’s disastrous 3–0 defeat at Liverpool.

The result leaves City in fourth, three points in front of Tottenham having played a game more.

It was the worst preparation for Saturday’s Wembley meeting with Manchester United, with skipper Carlos Tevez is almost certain to miss the last-four tie after the South American limped off with a hamstring problem at Anfield.

Yet Mancini retains an unshakeable faith in his players’ ability to rise to the stiffest of challenges.

“I am not worried,” he said. “I am sure that we will get to the Champions League and reach the FA Cup final.

Mancini acknowledged arriving at Anfield barely an hour before kick–off was hardly ideal.

The visitors were overwhelmed during the first half–hour, when Andy Carroll bagged his first Liverpool goal, Dirk Kuyt slotted home a second and Tevez made his untimely exit.

Carroll added another before the break, but the damage had already been done.

This places more pressure on Mario Balotelli, who replaced the Argentinian but was then substituted himself after a dismal contribution, and Edin Dzeko, who is yet to score a Premier League goal for his new club after a £27million move from Wolfsburg during the January transfer window.