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'Stupid manager' Mancini mocks British media

Roberto Mancini is attempting not to get sidetracked by the British media © PA Photos

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• News: Mancini proves a point as City smash four past Fulham
  

Roberto Mancini mocked the fickle nature of the English media after Manchester City's 4-1 victory over Fulham, claiming "last week I was a stupid manager".

The City boss led an inspired performance at Craven Cottage, which featured goals from Carlos Tevez(2), Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure. By the time Zoltan Gera struck for Fulham, the game was effectively finished.

Victory lifts Manchester City to within three points of leaders Chelsea, and they have now scored more away league goals than any other team this season. The situation looks far rosier than seven days ago when Mancini was being booed from his dugout after a 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham, and it was a point not lost on the Italian.

''Last week I was a stupid manager who was six points behind. Now, I am the 'best manager' because I am only three points off the top of the league,'' shrugged Mancini.

''This is not important. We must continue to work and improve every game, every day. Only that way can we win. But if we have a big problem and a big crisis and we are only three points behind United and Chelsea, then we are doing well. But, in our minds, we must only think about working.''

Mark Hughes, the man Mancini replaced at City, claimed his former club could go on to win the league based on Sunday's showing.

''If they have belief and there's forward-thinking, and maybe they can be more attack-minded - as they were today - on more occasions, there is no reason why they shouldn't be contenders,'' said Hughes. "They were excellent today. We were complicit in that with the time we let them have. But they've got as good a chance as anybody."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.