3. Self-Destruction & The Quality Of Managers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8vUXRHt7CE In January, incredible scenes emerged from the Etihad of manager Roberto Mancini tackling Mario Balotelli, the pair pushing and shoving each other before the striker was hauled off the pitch by his manager following a robust challenge on a teammate. It was absolutely incredible that this could happen, and something you'd never in a million years see at Old Trafford. Yes, Balotelli has gone now, which gives City a bit more stability, but what if Carlos Tevez blows another gasket and decides he doesn't want to play anymore and would rather spend the title-run in playing golf in Argentina? This is all, in a way, down to the quality of the managers. Ferguson wouldn't allow scenes of self-destruction to be played out before the glare of the media's spotlight. Any problems he may have are all kept in-house. Mancini on the other hand never seems to be too far away from the headlines, whether it's coming to blows with one of his own players or insisting one of them will never play for him ever again (ala Tevez), City are prone to pressing that big red self-destruct button every once in a while, and that's something you could do without if you're chasing a title. Source(s):
BBC