Mancini looks to vital month for Blues (From Leigh Journal)

Mancini looks to vital month for Blues

7:40am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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Roberto Mancini believes the next five games will determine the outcome of Manchester City’s season — starting with tonight’s clash with Bolton.

The Italian boss suffered his second league defeat in charge of the club on Saturday when the Citizens went down 2-1 at Hull, dealing a blow to their hopes of Champions League football next season.

But Mancini remains confident that goal is very much within reach as he targets victory against Bolton and Stoke before tougher challenges against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Having described his players as being “on holiday” in the first half at the KC Stadium, Mancini was far more impressed with the fight shown after the break, and believes that is how they must play for the rest of the month and beyond.

“We played very hard and we must continue like the second half,” he said. “If we continue in this way we can improve but we must recover all of our players now, this is most important.

Bolton are likely to be in unforgiving mood for one of their derby matches, and Mancini has been impressed by them under new manager Owen Coyle.

“I watched Bolton’s last three or four games and they have played very well, very aggressively, and changed mentality under a good manager,” he said.

“We must concentrate at 100 per cent because it will be a difficult game. It is important we win this game.”

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