|
|
Why always him? - Mario Balotelli showcases the good, bad & ugly sides to his game as Manchester City move closer to title glory
Italian striker won and scored the winning penalty in the dying stages of Sunday's 3-2 win over Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium - but should have been sent-off for stamp on Parker
23 Jan 2012 08:16:00
Getty Images
COMMENT
By Greg Stobart at Etihad Stadium
‘Why Always Me?’ asked Mario Balotelli on a T-shirt revealed during the Manchester derby in October. The answer was clearer than ever on Sunday as he scored the winning goal over Tottenham at a time when he should have been back in the changing room contemplating his own stupidity.
The Italian has fascinated fans since his move to City from Inter in 2010, a constant form of entertainment whether setting off fireworks in his bathroom, putting money behind the bar in his local pub or tackling school bullying.
But there was nothing of the loveable or eccentric about Balotelli’s stamp on Scott Parker in the 84th minute of City’s dramatic 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
After tangling with the England international following a blocked shot, Balotelli violently kicked his foot down onto Parker’s head, in an obviously unnatural manner that looked very much intentional. The referee, Howard Webb, missed the incident and Balotelli escaped a red card.
Not long later, deep into stoppage time, the 21-year-old was winning - and then scoring - the penalty that put Tottenham all but out of the title race.
“It’s not the first time he has done that is it? And I’m sure it won’t be the last," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said when asked about Balotelli's image as a loveable eccentric.
“He was annoyed he didn’t win the challenge and now Scott has a nasty cut on his face.
“I don’t like people kicking people in the head on the football pitch. What reason did he have to back-heel Scott in the head? It’s not a nice thing to do. It’s wrong.”
Redknapp expressed his surprise that officials missed the incident, and the FA are likely to take retrospective action against the City striker. Joleon Lescott could also find himself in trouble for a forearm smash on Spurs defender Younes Kaboul that also escaped the eye of the officials.
On as a 65th minute substitute for the poor Edin Dzeko, it seemed to be one of those games when Balotelli was a picture of frustration and anger. His first contribution was to receive a yellow card for a late foul on Benoit Assou-Ekotto. His second was to leave his mark on Parker’s head. His third was decisive, not just for the match but potentially for the title race, with City now eight clear of Spurs, seemingly leaving just United in their way.
It rubbed salt into Tottenham’s - and Parker’s - wounds that Balotelli should be the matchwinner after the visitors had launched a stirring comeback from 2-0 down and seen Jermain Defoe miss a glorious chance to score a last-gasp winner himself.
If Defoe’s missed symbolised the fact that Spurs are just short of being genuine title contenders, City's last-gasp winner bore the mark of champions. Balotelli kept his cool when all around him had lost their heads to give City three points they hardly deserved, slotting the spot-kick low and true after being tripped by Ledley King. It could be looked upon come May as the decisive moment in the title race as City look to win their first championship in 44 years.
Balotelli’s 25-odd minutes was his City career in microcosm: the good, bad and ugly, a headline-maker for the right reasons as well as the wrong. Few players in recent history have been able to match such ability with such personality and such controversy with such genius.
It’s why his manager, Roberto Mancini, believes Balotelli can be the best player in the world, genuinely on the same level as the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s why City paid £24 million to sign the player after Inter gave up on his poor attitude.
Mancini described Balotelli as ‘crazy’ in October when the striker scored twice in the 6-1 mauling of Manchester United - in which he revealed that now famous T-shirt - less than 48 hours after being forced to flee from his burning home.
Balotelli has become a cult hero among the City fans, romanticised by the regularity of colourful stories about him. Some are not true, like the myth that he paid for the homeless to stay in the Hilton Hotel on New Year’s Eve, or the one that he drove up and down Deansgate dressed as Father Christmas and handed out wads of cash through his Lamborghini’s window.
It is hard to see through the headlines that make Balotelli one of the biggest characters in the game, his antics generally switching somewhere between the ridiculous and the absurd.
His first season in England will most likely be remembered for his struggles with training bibs, a funny hat and his cheeky wink at Rio Ferdinand as the pair rowed in the aftermath of the FA Cup semi-final.
On the pitch, Balotelli was underwhelming in 2010-11. The odd piece of brilliance served as a reminder of his potential, but his performances were often heavily criticised by both the supporters and his manager.
He was labelled lazy and moody. The real problem was not his reluctance to smile after scoring, as some suggested, but the lack of workrate, particularly in away games when the going was tough.
Mancini looked exasperated at times, but he is the one manager who has always maintained faith in Balotelli, always been prepared to take on the challenge. Balotelli ran out of chances with Jose Mourinho at Inter but, after a few warnings, he is now flourishing under Mancini's firm but fair stance.
He has settled off the pitch, too, believe it or not. After initially refusing to live in the boring suburbs, Balotelli has moved out of his city centre apartment and has now settled into life in Manchester, where he lives with his girlfriend.
Settled being a relative term. You sense this is about as normal as it will ever get with Balotelli. And he is still making sure to leave his mark. On the scoresheet, on the title race and, alas, on his opponents.
Follow Greg Stobart on
By Greg Stobart at Etihad Stadium
‘Why Always Me?’ asked Mario Balotelli on a T-shirt revealed during the Manchester derby in October. The answer was clearer than ever on Sunday as he scored the winning goal over Tottenham at a time when he should have been back in the changing room contemplating his own stupidity.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
The Italian has fascinated fans since his move to City from Inter in 2010, a constant form of entertainment whether setting off fireworks in his bathroom, putting money behind the bar in his local pub or tackling school bullying.
But there was nothing of the loveable or eccentric about Balotelli’s stamp on Scott Parker in the 84th minute of City’s dramatic 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
After tangling with the England international following a blocked shot, Balotelli violently kicked his foot down onto Parker’s head, in an obviously unnatural manner that looked very much intentional. The referee, Howard Webb, missed the incident and Balotelli escaped a red card.
Not long later, deep into stoppage time, the 21-year-old was winning - and then scoring - the penalty that put Tottenham all but out of the title race.
“It’s not the first time he has done that is it? And I’m sure it won’t be the last," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said when asked about Balotelli's image as a loveable eccentric.
“He was annoyed he didn’t win the challenge and now Scott has a nasty cut on his face.
“I don’t like people kicking people in the head on the football pitch. What reason did he have to back-heel Scott in the head? It’s not a nice thing to do. It’s wrong.”
Redknapp expressed his surprise that officials missed the incident, and the FA are likely to take retrospective action against the City striker. Joleon Lescott could also find himself in trouble for a forearm smash on Spurs defender Younes Kaboul that also escaped the eye of the officials.
 |
PATH TO GLORY Man City's key 10 PL fixtures |
| Jan 22 |
Tottenham (H) (Won 3-2) |
| Jan 31 |
Everton (A) |
| Feb 4 |
Fulham (H) |
| Feb 12 |
Aston Villa (A) |
| Feb 25 |
Blackburn (H) |
| Mar 3 |
Bolton (H) |
| Mar 10 | Swansea (A) |
| Mar 17 | Chelsea (H) |
| Mar 24 | Stoke (A) |
| Mar 31 | Sunderland (H) |
It rubbed salt into Tottenham’s - and Parker’s - wounds that Balotelli should be the matchwinner after the visitors had launched a stirring comeback from 2-0 down and seen Jermain Defoe miss a glorious chance to score a last-gasp winner himself.
If Defoe’s missed symbolised the fact that Spurs are just short of being genuine title contenders, City's last-gasp winner bore the mark of champions. Balotelli kept his cool when all around him had lost their heads to give City three points they hardly deserved, slotting the spot-kick low and true after being tripped by Ledley King. It could be looked upon come May as the decisive moment in the title race as City look to win their first championship in 44 years.
Balotelli’s 25-odd minutes was his City career in microcosm: the good, bad and ugly, a headline-maker for the right reasons as well as the wrong. Few players in recent history have been able to match such ability with such personality and such controversy with such genius.
It’s why his manager, Roberto Mancini, believes Balotelli can be the best player in the world, genuinely on the same level as the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s why City paid £24 million to sign the player after Inter gave up on his poor attitude.
Mancini described Balotelli as ‘crazy’ in October when the striker scored twice in the 6-1 mauling of Manchester United - in which he revealed that now famous T-shirt - less than 48 hours after being forced to flee from his burning home.
Balotelli has become a cult hero among the City fans, romanticised by the regularity of colourful stories about him. Some are not true, like the myth that he paid for the homeless to stay in the Hilton Hotel on New Year’s Eve, or the one that he drove up and down Deansgate dressed as Father Christmas and handed out wads of cash through his Lamborghini’s window.
It is hard to see through the headlines that make Balotelli one of the biggest characters in the game, his antics generally switching somewhere between the ridiculous and the absurd.
His first season in England will most likely be remembered for his struggles with training bibs, a funny hat and his cheeky wink at Rio Ferdinand as the pair rowed in the aftermath of the FA Cup semi-final.
On the pitch, Balotelli was underwhelming in 2010-11. The odd piece of brilliance served as a reminder of his potential, but his performances were often heavily criticised by both the supporters and his manager.
He was labelled lazy and moody. The real problem was not his reluctance to smile after scoring, as some suggested, but the lack of workrate, particularly in away games when the going was tough.
Mancini looked exasperated at times, but he is the one manager who has always maintained faith in Balotelli, always been prepared to take on the challenge. Balotelli ran out of chances with Jose Mourinho at Inter but, after a few warnings, he is now flourishing under Mancini's firm but fair stance.
He has settled off the pitch, too, believe it or not. After initially refusing to live in the boring suburbs, Balotelli has moved out of his city centre apartment and has now settled into life in Manchester, where he lives with his girlfriend.
Settled being a relative term. You sense this is about as normal as it will ever get with Balotelli. And he is still making sure to leave his mark. On the scoresheet, on the title race and, alas, on his opponents.
Follow Greg Stobart on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
-
Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms
The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield
