The distractions from Mario Balotelli have cost Manchester City

The Italian striker's antics have taken the focus off his club's battle for the title race, and could come at a very high price indeed.

Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli, left, argues with his club captain Vincent Kompany during last week’s game against Sunderland.

How do you solve a problem like Mario?

That is the conundrum which must have been occupying the mind of Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, as his controversial striker, Mario Balotelli, continues to dominate the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The discussion ahead of today's games should have been all about the title race and how City must win at Arsenal to keep in contact with Manchester United, who will go eight points clear if they beat Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford and City lose at Emirates Stadium.

Instead it is about a car crash involving Balotelli in Manchester city centre and the remarkable confession from Mancini that if he had been one of the Italian's teammates this season he might have been tempted to punch him.

Mancini's admission gives an insight into his frustration.

Harry Redknapp empathises with his opposite number.

"Balotelli is not my problem, but he is a problem," the Tottenham Hotspur manager said. "He doesn't seem to want to behave too well does he? It's a real problem. He has bags of talent but I suppose when you sign him you know what you're getting because [the former Inter Milan manager] Jose Mourinho had him and he bombed him."

Mancini worked with Balotelli at Inter so he knew what he was getting when, in the summer of 2010, he persuaded Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed to pay Inter €22 million (Dh105.8m) for him, though only three-quarters of the fee was paid up front. Mancini staked his reputation on the volatile striker. Balotelli has become an increasing distraction in recent weeks. City, remember, led the Premier League by two points at the start of last month.

Since then they have been beaten at Swansea City and drawn against Stoke City and Sunderland. Meanwhile, Balotelli made a bizarre appearance at an Inter press conference, had a training ground spat with Mancini and then turned in a performance against Sunderland which, despite two goals, had his manager shaking his head in critical disbelief as his striker argued with teammates.

Stories about Balotelli's private life have also surfaced. And this is after he let off fireworks indoors and was accused of throwing darts at his own teammates.

At a time when the club's focus should be on winning their first league title since 1968 they have taken their eye off the ball. They have surrendered the initiative to United.

The scope of that surrender could become apparent today.

United go into their match against QPR with the benefit of Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years experience at closing out title races.

It is no coincidence United seem to grow stronger as the season progresses. They have been doing that for years. It is to do with knowledge and composure. United's win at Blackburn Rovers last Monday was a case in point.

They were frustrated by a gutsy Blackburn for large parts of the match but never lost their shape or desire. When the opening goal from Antonio Valencia came after 80 minutes they skilfully drew Blackburn on to them and finished the game off in ruthless style with a breakaway strike from Ashley Young.

No fuss. No panic. Just a conviction that their work rate and tactics would eventually get the job done.

City have the talent. They led the Premier League for most of the season. They have swept aside teams with blistering performances, none more impressive than their 6-1 win against United at Old Trafford in October when Balotelli opened the scoring.

There were some who were prepared to announce the changing of the guard there and then.

Many believed the "noisy neighbours" were about to end Ferguson's domination of English football.

League titles, however, are not won in October. They are not handed out for one-off dazzling displays. They are awarded for meticulous consistency and the ability to keep winning when incidents on and off the field are not going your way.

Ferguson mastered that particular proficiency almost 20 years ago. Mancini is still wrestling with it.

For now, the City coach is standing by Balotelli, accepting his flaws while hoping he will mature into one of the world's top players.

"I told him if you played with me, 10 years ago, I give to you every day one punch in your head," Mancini said.

"I understand his teammates, but there are different ways to help guys like Mario."

The bottom line, however, is that trying to solve the problem of Balotelli and the distractions which surround him could have cost City a league title.

That is a high price to pay.

* Press Association

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