Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hit out at Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis for his “stupid comments.”
Napoli will qualify for the Champions League knockouts as long as they avoid defeat to Villarreal, even if City beat Bayern Munich tomorrow.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hit out at Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis for his “stupid comments.”
Napoli will qualify for the Champions League knockouts as long as they avoid defeat to Villarreal, even if City beat Bayern Munich tomorrow.
In the weeks leading up to the games, President De Laurentiis suggested owner Sheikh Mansour would soon “get bored and look for a new toy” to play with.
“Fortunately, Sheikh Mansour is not Italian,” said Mancini. “De Laurentiis doesn't know Sheik Mansour. Sheikh Mansour is a good man and we can't think about these stupid comments.”
Mancini also had words for Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who openly declared he hoped Napoli would qualify from the group and joined De Laurentiis in criticising City’s status under UEFA’s financial fair play regulations.
“I don't understand Rummenigge's behaviour against Manchester City. This has been six months now that he talks against us because of financial fair play. He also says that he hopes Napoli get through to the second stage. I don't know what his problem is with us.
“Manchester City are working for financial fair play for the next two years, so I don't understand what has happened with Rummenigge. There are other teams in Europe that have problems with financial fair play, not just Manchester City. Rummenigge knows his football – he was an incredible player – but I don't why.”