Mancini backs Adebayor to improve
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Your support makes all the difference.Roberto Mancini is convinced Emmanuel Adebayor just needs a goal to relaunch his Manchester City career.
The Togo star has not appeared to be the happiest player at Eastlands since the transfer window closed and hardly rushed off the field when he was substituted during the second-half of last night's 1-1 Europa League draw with Juventus.
He is still to score this season and rarely looked like breaking his duck against a well organised Juve team who did not commit many men forward once Adam Johnson levelled Vincenzo Iaquinta's opener.
But Mancini is just happy to have Adebayor back.
"I wouldn't say it was a frustrating night for him," said Mancini.
"The main thing he was available today after 20 days out.
"I am happy with his performance but what I would like is for Emmanuel to score a goal. We need him to score goals. This is what we are working for."
If Adebayor started to find the net, it would take some of the pressure off Carlos Tevez who, with Mario Balotelli sidelined until the end of next month is carrying much of the attacking burden on his own.
"I am concerned about the situation," he said.
"If we had all our strikers available probably sometimes Carlos could miss a game.
"But we knew we would have a problem with injuries until the end of this month.
"After the next lot of internationals, we might get some players back and Jo and Emmanuel Adebayor might be 100%."
Pablo Zabaleta will miss Sunday's home encounter with Newcastle after suffering a hamstring strain during the first-half, so Dedryck Boyata is set to start at right-back, with Jerome Boateng switching to the left after making a pleasing first start following his recovery from a knee injury.
With four points from their opening two games, City are still in a good position to reach the knockout phase, although they need to come out on top in back-to-back meetings with Lech Poznan to maintain their advantage.
"I am confident," said Mancini.
"I know this is a difficult group. Lech Poznan and Juventus are good teams but we can go through."
Juventus coach Luigi del Neri was also satisfied with the outcome after gaining something from a tough away game against a side he is expecting big things of in the coming months.
"Money is not everything but it does allow you to buy some important players," he said.
"They have a great coach, who knows what he is doing and how to go about his job.
"I expect them to go further and further."
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