Roberto Mancini was quick to play down suggestions of serious foul play, after a Sergio Aguero lunge marred Manchester City’s FA Cup semi final victory against Chelsea.
Samir Nasri and Aguero netted either side of half time, before Demba Ba pulled one back for Chelsea, to set up a final with Wigan Athletic.
Aguero escaped an early bath late on for a two-footed lunge on David Luiz, but Mancini refused to be drawn into the debate and instead looked forward to the final.
“I don’t think so – it was a tackle,” said Mancini. “Sergio is a good guy.”
“It was a difficult game. The players did well to win this game, fighting for every ball until the last second.
“In the first half we had everything under control. When Demba Ba scored, it caused us a problem for 10 minutes.
“When we won the FA Cup against Stoke, it was a difficult game, and I expect the same against Wigan.”
Vincent Kompany was also fortunate towards the end, when referee Chris Foy waved away Chelsea’s penalty appeals for a tug on Fernando Torres.
Kompany agreed with his manager that the decision was correct and is already looking forward to returning to Wembley to take on Wigan.
“I thought it was great defending,” he said. “I got my body in the way and did everything I could.
“He pulled, I put my body in the way – this is football.
“We never doubted the fact that we wanted to win trophies.
“This was an important game and now we’re in the final against Wigan – that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
City can now look forward to an FA Cup final dress rehearsal, when they host Wigan in the league on Wednesday night.
Image courtesy of BBC Sport, via Youtube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
