VMC's Some Might Say: City Win Europa Group A

Roberto Mancini's cunning plan of resting as many players as possible for Everton on Monday night has paid off. Post Match Reaction to a job well done in Italy...

Roberto Mancini:

'I am happy with the result, but especially I am happy for the players with the way they played...I am delighted, because that draw was what we wanted before the game.'

The Blues are now seeded for the Round of 32 draw today in Nyon and will be out of action in Europe until February. The dapper City gaffer now has Everton on his mind with City unbeaten in 9 games and undefeated in the Premier League since 30th October. The momentum is gathering pace:

'Everton will be tough, but we must continue in the way we have been going. We needed time because we had so many new players, and we can still improve in many areas of our game. Now we must focus on what happens in the league.'

Luigi Del Neri:

'It is clear that I am bitterly disappointed about our participation in the Europa League...We paid for having a host of new faces at the start of the season...We did well to keep at bay a motivated side, which came here to get a positive result. We leave the tournament with dignity and keeping our head high.'

Adam Johnson:

'I think we were the better team. I think especially, the chances we created, we should've scored a few more goals.'

City's flying England winger has been devastated this week by the tragic passing of his close friend Rushden and Diamonds keeper Dale Roberts:

'I almost wasn't going to play...but I spoke to the manager and thought it would probably be best if I played. Hopefully our message on behalf of everyone was what a great lad he was, and he'll be missed. I was just a bit gutted I couldn't score, I know he would've wanted me to.'

citizhun:

'Job Done - Top of the group and the entire first team rested for Monday...but god was that dull.'

Thai Blue Fan:

'Good result with the second team out.'

Stu MCFC:

'Adam Johnson...the only creative spark in the team today. Jo scored a lovely goal but isn't it the laws of football that when given as many chances as he was today, you've got to score one of them. He really did miss some sitters, though his offside goal should have stood. Boyata played well also.'

eighthsin:

'Not only did Jo get on the scoresheet (should have been twice), but he did excellently holding up play and nodding down long balls to those around him...He got into a lot of good positions but we lacked someone like Silva to slip balls through to him...I also thought Viera did pretty well, using his experience to break down Juve offensives and making some telling tackles in the absence of De Jong.'

CITY VERSUS EVERTON ON VMC:

Head for the VMC Match Day Experience Forum for the build up and beyond to City's crunch clash with an Everton side lying two points above the relegation zone.

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