My stars must realise no one is safe in the quest for glory

Posted Saturday, September 22, 2012 by The Sun

ROBERTO MANCINI has warned his Manchester City superstars that not one of them is safe from the axe.

The manager insists he may have to drop each one of his millionaire players this season if the champions are to challenge for four-way glory.

He declared: “If you want to go through in all competitions you have to understand the players will be changed.

“It can happen that an important player can stay on the bench.”

Mancini wielded the axe for Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.

Mario Balotelli was left out of the the squad and the controversial Italian striker is likely to be missing again for tomorrow’s intriguing Premier League clash at home to Arsenal.

Mancini said of his Madrid line-up: “I made the best decision for the team. It was a tactical choice because I wanted two strikers on the bench and three is too much.”

He admitted that Balotelli did not take his exclusion well, having travelled to Spain. Mancini added: “Mario was upset but I think that is normal. There is not a player out there who would not want to play in the Bernabeu.”

Balotelli started the game against Stoke last weekend but was poor as the champions fought out a 1-1 draw.

With Sergio Aguero back from injury he was on the bench on Tuesday with Edin Dzeko, while Carlos Tevez played the lone striker’s role leaving Balotelli up in the stands.

Aguero and Tevez look set to start against the Gunners.

The last time City faced Arsenal at home, they lost 1-0 in April. Balotelli was sent off and got a three-match ban as it was his third red card of the season.

Mancini admits he thought the title race was over at that point.

City fought back to win the crown on goal difference with a last-gasp 3-2 final game triumph over QPR as United imploded in Manchester’s two-horse race.

Now Mancini believes there are four going for this season’s title with Chelsea making an impressive start and Arsenal surprising everyone.

Mancini said: “Arsenal can fight for the title this season because the pressure is off them after losing big players like Robin van Persie and Alex Song.

“But they have brought in good players and are a good team who are very strong on the counter attack.

“I watched the game against Liverpool and they played really well.

“They have two important players, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski.

“While Olivier Giroud didn’t score, he is a good player.”