Mancini riled by Rummenigge City tirade
MANCHESTER CITY vs BAYERN MUNICH
MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has hit back at the criticism of his club from Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ahead of tonight’s must-win Champions League showdown against the German giants.
City have to beat Bayern and hope that Villarreal can earn their first point of the competition at home against Napoli if the Premier League leaders are to progress.
Bayern, who will rest key players Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos, have already qualified, but spice has been added to the fixture by Rummenigge’s outspoken comments published earlier this week.
The Former Germany striker urged Uefa to take “strict penalties” against City should they contravene any of the European governing body’s Financial Fair-Play regulations.
“I don’t understand Rummenigge’s behaviour against Manchester City,” said Mancini, who will be without injured left-back Aleksandar Kolarov for around a month.
“This has been six months now that he talks against us. I don’t know what his problem is with us. Rummenigge knows his football – he was an incredible player – but I don’t know why he talks like this about us.”
PERMUTATIONS
Manchester City have to beat Bayern Munich at Etihad Stadium and hope Napoli fail to win away to Villarreal, who have lost all five matches. Any other results will send Napoli through in second and condemn City to the Europa League. Bayern, who beat the Premier League leaders 2-0 back in September, have already comfortably qualified as group winners.