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Mancini: Rivals provoke Balotelli

Mancini: Rivals provoke Balotelli
© PA Photos
Roberto Mancini thinks that Mario Balotelli needs to "pay attention" in order to prevent getting sent off during matches.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes that some players try to aggravate Mario Balotelli on the field due to the striker's volatile attitude.

The controversial forward was sent off for the North West side during their 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

While the Italian boss believes that Balotelli's red card was unjust, the 47-year-old thinks that the frontman needs to "pay attention".

"I think there are some players who [want to provoke Balotelli]," said Mancini. "But Mario should pay attention. We can do nothing. Only he is on the pitch, not us.

"He should pay attention. He is more mature but it is my opinion that if Mario had stayed on the pitch [against Liverpool] we could have won that game, with 11 players against 11. But when he was sent off we could only draw."

Man City have the chance to go eight points clear in the league table with a win over Norwich City on Saturday.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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