MARIO BALOTELLI is facing an internal investigation and possible disciplinary action by Manchester City after breaking a curfew ahead of tonight’s game at Chelsea, in the latest example of his apparent inability to conform to rules and stay out of trouble.
Balotelli was seen in Zouk, a city-centre restaurant in Manchester, in the early hours yesterday, despite clear instructions from the club not to go out within 48 hours of a key fixture. The 21-year-old was not drinking but was out beyond 1am and Roberto Mancini does not want to promote the idea that there is one rule for Balotelli and one for the other players.
Mancini tends to give Balotelli more leeway than the rest of the squad but the City manager is entitled to be exasperated by the latest incident involving a player he described recently as “too young”, expressing concern that the €25 million signing from Internazionale was in danger of not fulfilling his potential.
Although Balotelli’s attitude has undoubtedly improved, Mancini joked recently that it might be better for the striker to move in with him. As it is, Balotelli is living in a city-centre hotel in Manchester after a fire at his countryside house caused by him and his friends letting off fireworks.
The frustration for Mancini stems from his belief that a focused, mature Balotelli can join Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the best players in the world. The City manager has also admitted he may leave him out of key fixtures because of his propensity to get himself in trouble, as three red cards in his 16 months since joining the club attest.
Balotelli has had prolific bursts of scoring but has also had spells out of the team and has not started a game since his sending-off as a second-half substitute during the 1-1 draw at Liverpool two weeks ago. Mancini argued that Balotelli had not deserved the second yellow card but accepted that the player was finding himself in trouble because of the reputation he has developed.
Balotelli has become a hugely popular figure with City’s supporters but the latest incident contributes to the image of a player who is sometimes guilty of not taking football seriously enough, particularly as City aim to re-establish a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Juan Mata believes victory over Manchester City this evening will thrust Chelsea back into the title race ahead of the cluttered Christmas period with the Spain international insistent his side will show the leaders “respect but no fear” at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea trail Roberto Mancini’s visitors by 10 points with Andre Villas-Boas having already conceded that it would be “very difficult, if not impossible” for his side to catch City if that gap were to be extended to 13 points. That has put greater emphasis on Chelsea maintaining recent encouraging form – they have won three of their last four games 3-0 – to ensure they remain in contention, although it has not been helped by reports of a divided camp.
Villas-Boas banished Chelsea’s reserve-team players from the main training centre at the club’s complex in Cobham towards the end of last week, as he retreated further into the mentality of the siege. The manager had previously told Nicolas Anelka and Alex that they could not use the facility, after the pair submitted transfer requests, and has now moved the reserves over to the Academy building.
The lockdown of the first-team building led to questions about Villas-Boas’ attempts to instil harmony from top to bottom at the club. However, Mata, a €27 million signing from Valencia last summer, is confident Chelsea are in the right state to overcome City.
Asked whether Chelsea could still catch City at the top, Mata said: “I think it is not impossible for us. They have a big points advantage but I think it is not impossible. If we win against City we will have more confidence and the Premier League does not finish for another six months. Nothing is impossible.”
