• Premier League

Mancini rallies behind Balotelli

ESPN staff
April 5, 2012
Mancini described the sight of his players arguing on the pitch against Sunderland as 'not normal' © PA Photos
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Roberto Mancini has dismissed fears of division in the Manchester City dressing room following their 3-3 draw with Sunderland.

City recovered from 3-1 down to rescue a point against the Black Cats but the match was overshadowed by the sight of a number of City players, including Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolarov, losing their tempers during the game's flashpoints.

Balotelli and Kolarov had to be separated by team-mates as both argued over a free kick, while reports later emerged that the Italian striker had been confronted, notably by Yaya Toure, in the dressing room before the second half.

But Mancini has denied the allegations while accepting that heated exchanges between team-mates are inevitable with so much on the line for City, who have slipped behind Manchester United in their bid for a first league title since 1968.

"[Talk of a fight with] Yaya Toure is totally false," said the Italian when asked about Balotelli.

"What's happened with Kolarov on the pitch is a situation that can happen in difficult moments. It has happened before, situations between team-mates. It is not good, but it can happen. After the game everything after was finished.

"I do not like these things, it is not normal, but I can understand that things can happen."

Toure also denied a dressing room bust-up with Balotelli, describing the Italian as a 'brother'.

He said: "It's just not true. It didn't happen. I am a footballer, not a boxer. People don't know my relationship with Mario. He's not my friend, he's my brother and I love him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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