Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg with Manchester United may be more significant for Manchester City, but their manager Roberto Mancini will not show a disregard for Scunthorpe at Glanford Park today. The Italian has tried to foster a competitive spirit and breed a winning mentality at City, whether it is in the Premier League, Carling Cup or FA Cup, and whether he relies on Craig Bellamy or Benjani.
"We like to win, always," he said. "I want to win in the FA Cup. It is an important trophy." With Bellamy and Carlos Tevez among those poised for a breather before the Old Trafford test, Robinho could get the chance to make a much-needed impression on his manager. At the back, Dedryck Boyata is the latest youngster to impress and another off the production line at the Eastlands academy. Boyata, of Belgian-Congolese descent, made an assured debut in the FA Cup third round win at Middlesbrough and Mancini did not hesitate to put him up against Wayne Rooney in midweek.
"He is learning, but has good quality. If he can cope with Rooney, he can cope with anyone," said Mancini. What is even more surprising is that Boyata, 19, has been moulded into a defender after starting out much further up the pitch. "I used to play up front, and as the years went on I started to go backwards on the pitch. Even when I was defending, my dream was to be a striker," he said. akhan@thenational.ae
