Truth behind Mario’s message

The City kit boss and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport
ROUGHLY one week before Manchester City’s memorable 6-1 win at United, Mario Balotelli asked me for a message to be added to the shirt under his jersey.

The plan was a work-in-progress for several days. We swapped a few ideas during the week before he came up with ‘Why always me?’.

So I arranged to have it done on the understanding he could reveal it if he scored but that he must not, under any circumstances, take off his shirt completely — that’s an automatic booking.

As it turned out, Mario broke the deadlock at Old Trafford and, despite only pulling his jersey over his head, he still received a yellow card from referee Mark Clattenburg.

At half-time I asked Mr Clattenburg if it was necessary to caution our charismatic Italian. He told me: “I really didn’t want to but the rules state that even if it is kept on but pulled over the head, we must take the player’s name.”

I am just glad he didn’t get sent off in the second half! As you can imagine, the dressing room was jumping afterwards.

The centre-halves were solid and protected Joe Hart, the full-backs got forward, the midfielders worked their socks off and up front we were simply clinical.

David Silva’s pass for the sixth goal — scored by substitute Edin Dzeko — was an example of sublime technique.

It was an inspirational team effort but a couple of special mentions for Micah Richards and James Milner. Micah was our star man. James had a tough start at City but has turned a corner this term and when he was substituted, the fans were singing his name...