Mancini calls for Wolves focus

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has been quick to shift focus from his side’s 6-1 hammering of rivals Manchester United.

The win was City’s biggest over their cross-town neighbours since their 5-0 win back in 1955 and propelled them five points clear at the top of the English Premier League.

It was also United’s biggest home defeat since that day and was described by manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the ‘worst result in his career’, but Mancini refused to harp on the result.

“Because we beat Manchester United we’re feeling good, but that game is in the past now – it’s history. Finished. Now we need to be focused on Wolves,” Mancini said.

In the aftermath of the thumping, City were immediately installed as favourites to take home their first title since 1968.

City have made their equal-best start to a season, but Mancini believes the title remains a five-way battle.

“It’s not important. I think there are four or five teams that can win the title. At the moment we are on top but the table can change every game. The season is long,” he said.

“United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham who have one game in hand, maybe Arsenal (have a chance). The season is very long and from after the next international break, we play every three days for six months – it will be very difficult.”

City return home to face struggling Wolves on Saturday, just three days after Mancini’s men thrashed the Midlands club 5-2 in a Carling Cup tie.

Both sides opted for heavily changed line-ups on Wedneday, with Mick McCarthy’s men winless in the Premier League since their 3-0 defeat of Queens Park Rangers on September 17.

One player to impress for City was winger Adam Johnson, who has found a starting role hard to come by for his side this season.

Despite clamouring for the England youngster to see more action for City, Mancini believes the former Middlesbrough player still has much work to do.

“I have seen a lot of players like Adam in my life and also when I played and in my time as a manager,” Mancini said.

“Sometimes a player like Adam plays well one game and plays so-so in the second game. For me, a player that has the quality Adam has should play every game at the top and every minute. I think that he has top quality and I want him to play at the top.”

“If you think you’ve scored one goal and that is enough, I don’t think (it’s enough). If he listens, I think he can become a top winger.”