Mancini rues City absentees

Roberto Mancini believes Barcelona are the only club in the world capable of dealing with Manchester City’s lengthy absentee list.

Key men David Silva and Vincent Kompany missed City’s League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday, while Kolo and Yaya Toure are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mario Balotelli is suffering an ankle problem, and exiled forward Carlos Tevez is still in Argentina.

Silva faces a late fitness test to determine whether he will feature against Wigan in the English Premier League on Monday, and Mancini believes the lack of numbers at his disposal is making life difficult.

“Maybe Barcelona could (cope). Manchester City no. In four or five years, Manchester City probably yes. But not now,” he said.

“When I said one month ago that December and January would be the crucial months it was because I know football.”

“Every year in every squad you have one difficult moment. At the moment we are not strong and we have lost important players, so it is difficult.”

City are top of the league but only by goal difference from Manchester United, though they do have a match a hand.