Mancini spoilt for choice up front

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he is yet to decide who will lead the line in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Ajax.

Mancini has been favouring Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero up front, but Edin Dzeko has given the Italian a headache after coming off the bench to score both goals in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League.

“For me it is always difficult … when you have four strikers like Mario (Balotelli), Edin, Carlos and Sergio,” Mancini said on Tuesday.

“I can only choose two to play and two are left on the bench. It is very difficult. For tomorrow’s team we will decide tomorrow morning.”

Both teams are searching for their first victory in Group D, with City in Amsterdam on the back of a 3-2 loss at Real Madrid and a 1-1 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund.

“We started this group very well but we know tomorrow will be a difficult game,” Mancini said.

“Everyone can think it will be an easy game but Ajax play fantastic football and they have a young team.”

City captain Vincent Kompany knows both sides are desperate for three points to kick start their European campaign.

“Ajax is a club of legends; they’ve always had one of the best youth systems in the world,” he said.

“They stand for a way of playing; they stand for what the game is about – the beauty of football.

“Obviously I have a massive amount of respect for Ajax, but tomorrow is going to be a game for us where we need to win as much as they need to win.”