MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 05:39:38| >> :120:25805:25805:

Roberto Mancini regrets not buying defender in January

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits that Vincent Kompany's extended lay-off makes him regret not signing an extra defender during the January transfer window.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that he regrets not signing an extra defender during the January transfer window.

Captain Vincent Kompany has not featured for the Citizens since was injured in their FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke City on January 26.

Mancini did not expect Kompany's calf problem to cause such a lengthy lay-off and he describes the 26-year-old's absence as "a big problem".

He said: "Probably we made a mistake because when we knew [of] this problem we were four days to [the] close [of] the market. Probably then we should maybe have bought another defender.

"Also, last year he had this problem - for one month he didn't play. This is a big problem. For me we did a mistake in this case.

"We had a chance because we had one good defender, but we didn't think that Vinny would stay out for 40-45 days."

Kompany will not feature in this weekend's match at Everton, but he could return when City host Newcastle United on March 30.

ID:74394: cacheID:74394:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2046:
Written by
Robert Summerscales
Restore Data
Share this article now:
City boss Roberto Mancini in the dugout against Sunderland on Boxing Day 2012
Read Next:
Man City players record metro announcements
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!