Mancini unfazed by Hughes clash

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has played down talk of a rift between himself and QPR boss Mark Hughes ahead of Sunday’s title decider.

Rangers will head into the weekend knowing a point would ensure their safety, but they will also be aware a victory for City would secure the title for Mancini’s team.

Hughes was in the hot seat at City before being sacked and replaced by Mancini in 2009 and was also a former player at their title rivals Manchester United.

But Mancini has played down any ill feeling, and said the threat of relegation is enough for his opposite number to be dealing with.

“This is not important – on Sunday we play Manchester City against QPR,” the City manager told reporters.

“For me, they are a good team, they don’t deserve to stay at the bottom.

“They want to do everything to stay in the Premier League and for this reason I think it will be a tough game.

“I don’t know (Hughes) very well but it is not Mancini against Hughes or Hughes against Mancini. It is City against QPR.

“One team plays for the title, the other plays (to avoid) relegation.”

With City leading the table on goal difference, both Mancini and his players know that they only need to match United’s result to pick up their first title since 1968.

The Italian admits that come matchday there will be nerves, but insisted there has been no tension during the week’s training.

“It is a normal week, without problem, without injury,” he said. “We have worked well.

“The players are very well. I think maybe tomorrow, Saturday, we can have pressure – I don’t know – because it is the last game, but it doesn’t change our situation.

“We need to play another difficult game. We need only to have focus about the game.”