Mancini plays down talk of Robinho rift

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insisted he had not fallen out with Robinho after bringing him off the bench only to substitute him during last weekend’s defeat by Everton.

Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League loss at Goodison Park was Mancini’s first since he became City manager.

After Roque Santa Cruz suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury just four minutes into the match on Merseyside, Mancini brought on Robinho.

However, the Brazilian – a British record 32.5 million pounds signing – was himself replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips early in the second half.

Robinho has been widely criticised for failing to produce the goods for City away from home and there have been several reports in the British media the club are looking to sell him, if not now then at the end of the season.

Mancini tried to dismiss such speculation although the way in which he compared Robinho to in-form City striker Carlos Tevez did little to bolster the Brazilian’s case.

“It was a bad night for us all,” Mancini said Monday. “Robinho can play well but it is not always possible and on Saturday he played the same as his team-mates.

“When I put Wright-Phillips on I had to take a striker off because I cannot keep five forwards on the pitch.

“I had to decide between Robinho and Carlos.”

Mancini added: “He (Robinho) is a good man, a good player.”

City’s Italian manager was speaking ahead of Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Eastlands.

Mancini added he wanted City, who haven’t won a major trophy since 1976 but are now bankrolled by wealthy Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour, to be as big a club as United.

The Red Devils may have won 11 league titles alone since the Premier League was formed in 1992, but there are concerns among the Old Trafford faithful about the club’s ability to remain competitive while labouring under vast debts built-up by their American owners, the Glazer family.

“If we work well, it is possible,” said Mancini about the prospect of City rivalling United.

He added: “United have a big history. They have been a good team for many years. City can become a big team in the next year. It is most important that we get into the top four (and so qualify for the Champions League).”

Mancini was the manager of Italian giants Inter, who vie for local supremacy with city rivals AC Milan, and he said there was no reason why Manchester could not have two teams at the top of English football, as was last the case in the late 1960s.

“Surely it would be better if City were also a big club in the future because then Manchester could have two clubs in the Champions League,” he said.

And he insisted United’s financial worries would be an irrelevance come Tuesday’s kick-off.

“Manchester United have been on the top for many years,” he said. “It is not important if they have problems.

“On a pitch there are only players, not money.”