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Mancini claims City fans don't understand tactics

Carlos Tevez was replaced by Gareth Barry © PA Photos

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Roberto Mancini suggested that Manchester City's fans were not "thinking like a manager" after they booed his decision to replace Carlos Tevez with Gareth Barry in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Birmingham.

City drew their second blank of the week at Eastlands, and Mancini was booed from his dugout as his side's title challenge slipped further away. The supporters' anger reached its peak when Tevez was withdrawn despite City chasing a winner, but Mancini insists there were tactical reasons behind the change.

"I am frustrated as well," he said. "I wanted to win. I don't want to draw or lose. Carlos has had a little injury for two or three weeks and I felt if we took off that player we might have more chances to score. But if you think I put four strikers on and we score four goals, it is not true.

"All supporters are like this, in England and Italy. I must think like a manager. We can play wide, get the ball into the box, then we can score. Supporters just think why don't you put more strikers in the box, two, three, four, five."

The former Inter Milan manager also rejected the notion that his job would come under scrutiny following City's latest failure.

"Which pressure? For what?" he said. "You continue to say I am under pressure. Which pressure? Because some supporters say I did not put two strikers on, or journalists say I am too defensive?

"I am not under pressure. We are in fourth position. We have some problems. Since the start of the season it has been the case that if Carlos Tevez doesn't score, no-one does. We must improve that. But we have only played 13 games. When I have all my players and we have the right balance, then maybe we play better."

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