• Premier League

Mancini demands focus from Balotelli

ESPN staff
November 3, 2010
Mario Balotelli made his first Premier League start in a 2-1 defeat to Wolves © PA Photos
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Under-pressure Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has urged Mario Balotelli to become more focused on the field.

The Italian striker, who joined from Inter Milan in August, has seen injuries scupper his bid to make a dramatic early impact at Eastlands.

When he has played, Balotelli has looked to be suffering with a discipline problem, with two bookings in his three appearances to date.

Now Mancini has demanded that Balotelli sets his sights on goals as City bid to turn around a run of two straight league defeats.

"It is better that he doesn't talk, just play. He needs to get a focus on the match," Mancini said in the Daily Express. "He has been out for a long time and now just needs to play games. Maybe he still needs to understand English football, like David Silva when he first arrived.

"It took David two months to adapt and maybe it will take Mario the same. But people will see that he is a fantastic player."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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