ABOVE: Gael Clichy last night told axed City boss Roberto Mancini: You’ve only got yourself to blame
We have to be aware that he was probably at fault for this, but as players on the pitch we also have to take responsibility
Gael Clichy
GAEL CLICHY last night told axed Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini: You’ve only got yourself to blame.
The City left-back is the first Etihad star to talk about the demise of the Italian, who was dumped last week.
And he wasted no time in insisting Mancini can have no complaints about being booted out of City just a year after winning the Premier League title.
Splits in the dressing room spelled the end for Mancini, with Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini waiting in the wings.
Clichy said: “He’s the manager and you have to take responsibility.
“The manager is there to make the choices. When results are good it’s down to the manager. When it’s not so good, it’s also down to him.
“We have to be aware that he was probably at fault for this, but as players on the pitch we also have to take responsibility.
“We didn’t perform whether we played three, four or six at the back. That doesn’t matter, you have to give 100 per cent and sometimes we didn’t give anything.”
The former Arsenal star, who has signed a new four-year deal, was a regular under Mancini.
He said: “For me it’s always difficult as obviously he brought me to the club. It’s a bit of a shock and if you look at his record it’s difficult to understand. He’s won trophies, the title after 44 years.
“Many people, particularly the fans, would have wanted to give him another go.”
City begin their USA tour with the future unclear. But Clichy reckons the new man will have a great chance of glory next season.
He added: “We can’t get worse than this year because we haven’t won anything but I really have a nice feeling for next season.
“When you see where the club is going, it has been progressing for the last five years.”
Chief executive Ferran Soriano said: “We don’t think we are under any instability. We are changing the manager, as happens in other clubs.”
City are certainly moving forward globally after announcing a ground-breaking deal with baseball giants the New York Yankees to create the MLS’s 20th club.
The deal, which could spiral to around £500m, will see New York City FC start from the 2015 season in a new stadium in Queens.
Gael Clichy was speaking at a Manchester City visit to Staten Island in New York, where City have donated football equipment to a local community group who are helping the island recover from Hurricane Sandy.
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