Italian unhappy with Belgium ahead of Newcastle’s visit to the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has slammed Belgium for selecting captain Vincent Kompany this week.
Belgium boss Marc Wilmots started the centre-back for the World Cup 1-0 qualifying win over Macedonia on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old has missed the previous eight weeks with an ankle injury but played 90 minutes for the national team
The decision left Mancini, whose team face Newcastle United at home on Saturday, seething.
“I don’t know if he is okay or not, because he didn’t play for us for 60 days,” Mancini is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
“He went to play for Belgium, but I don’t know how he is. Today we will see what condition he is in.
“I did not agree with this [Kompany playing for Belgium] because I think, sometimes, some international managers should understand the situation.
“This player plays for the club, and the club plays every Saturday. He didn’t play for us for 60 days, but he goes and plays for his country.
“I don’t agree with this but sometimes these managers should understand. I don’t know if Vinnie is okay or not.
“One week before the international break he wasn’t fit for us. I didn’t see Vinnie yesterday, so I don’t know.”
City captain Kompany has featured 31 times for the Premier League champions this season.
Meanwhile, Mancini has concede the Premier League title but stressed his team must keep fighting until the end of the campaign amid pressure from third place Chelsea and Tottenham, who lie fourth.
Asked if the title race was over, the former Inter Milan boss said: “Yeah, yeah.
“It’s over, but this doesn’t change anything because we should do our best from now to the end.
“Every top team, when they can’t win a title, should still try to play well and win all their games.
“This is different [to last season when Mancini said title race was over].
“I don’t know how we will finish this season, because we have Chelsea four points behind us and Tottenham five points behind.
“We have nine games left and for this reason it’s important we keep working hard and well.”
City are 15 points behind neighbours Manchester United, with eight Premier League games still to play.
COMMENTS