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Kolo Toure to learn fate at City hearing
October 31, 2011
Kolo Toure will learn on Monday whether he faces further punishment for his failed drug test when the defender goes up in front of a Manchester City disciplinary panel.
• Mancini: Criticism motivated Johnson
Toure, who served a six-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance, could be hit with a hefty fine when he faces a club review, chaired by City chief executive Brian Marwood.
City had initially tried to fine the Ivory Coast international around £500,000, but are now targetting his image rights, which are reported to be worth over 20% of his earnings.
Toure is expected to be represented by the Professional Footballers' Association, just days after the PFA blocked City's four-week fine for striker Carlos Tevez. Toure, who is under contract at City until 2013, has made four appearances for City since returning to action in September.
Balotelli keen to repay Mancini faith
October 30, 2011
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has praised manager Roberto Mancini for believing in him when "no-one in England", vowing to build on his impressive start to the season and ensure people see "the real Mario".
GettyImagesMario Balotelli says he feels 'very comfortable' with Man City boss Roberto Mancini
• Mancini hails Wolves victory
• Jolly: City still striking gold
Balotelli, 21, has never been far from the spotlight since arriving at Eastlands in 2010 and has faced criticism for his lack of discipline on and off the pitch, which has manifested itself in him being caught throwing darts at youth team players and getting quizzed by police over apparent links to the Mafia.
But the Italy international has put his numerous off-field misdemeanours to one side this season and has flourished on the pitch, with his five goals in six games helping City to the top of the Premier League table.
Having finally appeared to have found his feet at Eastlands, Balotelli is now hoping he can continue to improve and repay the faith in him shown by Mancini, who has regularly defended his temperamental forward.
"I'm happy, I train good and I feel good and that's how it should be always," Balotelli told The Mail on Sunday. "I'm getting better all the time.
The real Mario is coming now and it isn't the same Mario as last year."
"With Mancini I feel very comfortable. I've known him a long time and he's a good manager. He believes in me - even when no one in England believed in me, he did. And he kept on believing in me. I want to do something important here with him."
Balotelli is likely to feature in his first Champions League game for City on Wednesday when they travel to Villlarreal for a crunch Group A encounter. The striker missed the first three European games of the season, serving a ban for a red card received in last season's Europa League defeat to Dynamo Kiev.
October 31, 2011
Kolo Toure will learn on Monday whether he faces further punishment for his failed drug test when the defender goes up in front of a Manchester City disciplinary panel.
• Mancini: Criticism motivated Johnson
Toure, who served a six-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance, could be hit with a hefty fine when he faces a club review, chaired by City chief executive Brian Marwood.
City had initially tried to fine the Ivory Coast international around £500,000, but are now targetting his image rights, which are reported to be worth over 20% of his earnings.
Toure is expected to be represented by the Professional Footballers' Association, just days after the PFA blocked City's four-week fine for striker Carlos Tevez. Toure, who is under contract at City until 2013, has made four appearances for City since returning to action in September.
Balotelli keen to repay Mancini faith
October 30, 2011
- staff
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has praised manager Roberto Mancini for believing in him when "no-one in England", vowing to build on his impressive start to the season and ensure people see "the real Mario".
GettyImagesMario Balotelli says he feels 'very comfortable' with Man City boss Roberto Mancini• Mancini hails Wolves victory
• Jolly: City still striking gold
Balotelli, 21, has never been far from the spotlight since arriving at Eastlands in 2010 and has faced criticism for his lack of discipline on and off the pitch, which has manifested itself in him being caught throwing darts at youth team players and getting quizzed by police over apparent links to the Mafia.
But the Italy international has put his numerous off-field misdemeanours to one side this season and has flourished on the pitch, with his five goals in six games helping City to the top of the Premier League table.
Having finally appeared to have found his feet at Eastlands, Balotelli is now hoping he can continue to improve and repay the faith in him shown by Mancini, who has regularly defended his temperamental forward.
"I'm happy, I train good and I feel good and that's how it should be always," Balotelli told The Mail on Sunday. "I'm getting better all the time.
The real Mario is coming now and it isn't the same Mario as last year."
"With Mancini I feel very comfortable. I've known him a long time and he's a good manager. He believes in me - even when no one in England believed in me, he did. And he kept on believing in me. I want to do something important here with him."
Balotelli is likely to feature in his first Champions League game for City on Wednesday when they travel to Villlarreal for a crunch Group A encounter. The striker missed the first three European games of the season, serving a ban for a red card received in last season's Europa League defeat to Dynamo Kiev.
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