FOOTBALL: City manager's woes

FRUSTRATED: Mancini is more concerned about signing players than Community Shield

ROBERTO Mancini admits Manchester City's Community Shield clash with Chelsea today has been overshadowed by the transfer row that threatens to derail the Premier League champions before they have even started their title defence.

Mancini's side will face European champions Chelsea in the traditional curtain raiser to the English season at Villa Park and the fixture should have been an ideal chance for City to flex their muscles by showing off new additions to their squad.

But instead City boss Mancini has been unable to make a single major signing since that dramatic May day when his team were crowned English champions for the first time in 44 years.

Mancini had hoped City's incredible 3-2 win over QPR, which wrestled the title from Manchester United on the final day of the season, would be the springboard for significant investment in the transfer market during the close-season.

The Italian clearly has a talented squad already, but he believes more options are required in every area to cope with the renewed challenge from United and Chelsea, as well as improving their chances of mounting a strong campaign in the Champions League.

With that in mind, it is easy to see why Mancini has become frustrated as the club's football administrator Brian Marwood failed to secure deals for Arsenal forward Robin van Persie, Liverpool defender Daniel Agger and Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi.

Now their rift is casting a cloud over City's pre-season preparations with their Premier League opener against Southampton just over a week away.

"Sorry, but I know that for you (the media) these questions are more important than the match but for this you should talk to Brian Marwood, not with me," Mancini said.

"I don't want to talk about the market. I don't know what I should say in this moment because after three or four months I don't know. I'm not happy but I won't say anything at the moment.

"I think we have a good team but we built this team two years ago.

"I think that it is impossible that after two years ago you did everything well. You still need to improve.

"You need to improve when we have a training session, we need to improve in every way."

City duo Micah Richards and Gareth Barry are set to miss today's glamour game, with the latter facing up to a month on the sidelines, while captain Vincent Kompany will undergo a fitness test before the game.

Italian striker Mario Balotelli and Spanish midfielder David Silva, who both starred at Euro 2012, will feature from the bench after only beginning their pre-season preparations six days ago following extended leave. AFP

FOOTBALL: City manager's woes

FRUSTRATED: Mancini is more concerned about signing players than Community Shield

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