Mancini relishing Euro tilt

City boss eagerly awaiting group stage draw

Last updated: 26th August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mancini relishing Euro tilt

Mancini: Looking forward

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is relishing a tilt at Europa League glory after the Blues booked their place in the group stage.

The Italian coach saw his side progress thanks to a 2-0 home victory in the second leg of their play-off against FC Timisoara, which secured a 3-0 aggregate win.

Shaun-Wright Phillips broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute for a dominant City side, which remained strong despite featuring seven changes from Monday's 3-0 win over Liverpool.

Teenage Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata then marked his first appearance of the season by heading home his first senior goal from a David Silva free-kick in the 59th minute.

That secured a comfortable passage against the Romanians and Mancini is now looking forward to the group stage draw at noon on Friday.

Important

"It is an important trophy," said Mancini. "I think the Europa League is difficult because you play more games.

"But if we can change some players every game, I think we can arrive at the end and play in the final. It is not like the Champions League, sure, but it is important.

"It was vital we played a good game tonight and now we are in the group stages."

Wright-Phillips made the breakthrough after a glorious through ball from Patrick Vieira and that settled City down.

Boyata, 19, then had his moment to savour and looked commanding alongside Vincent Kompany in the centre of defence.

Difficult

"Boyata did very well," Mancini said. "I am happy because he scored a goal, his first goal, and that is important.

"He played often in pre-season. In the last three games he didn't play, but he is always ready.

"This is important because when one player is ready every time you call him to play, it is very good."

Mancini added, on a night when Aston Villa and Celtic both crashed out: "We had a good focus on the match because this game is difficult if you think it is going to be easy.

"You start the game slowly and you can have a problem. But we started the game very well, had a good focus.

"It was difficult because they had 10 players behind the ball and sometimes we couldn't find any space. But I think it was a good game.

"At the moment we have four injured players, but I think that we must improve and work because we have played only four games and the season is very long."

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