Mancini rues festive fixtures after slump

WEST BROMWICH, United Kingdom - Agence France-Presse

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini (R) complained about the congested fixture of the Premier League after his team dropped two points against WBA. AP photo

Roberto Mancini bemoaned Manchester City’s Christmas fixture schedule after watching his team surrender its lead at the top of the Premier League.

City was held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day and is now top by virtue of goal difference after Manchester United thrashed Wigan 5-0.

The Italian took aim at the scheduling of their Christmas calendar to accommodate the television cameras. Mancini’s team will have just two days to prepare to face Liverpool on Jan. 3, while United will have double that amount of time with the team’s previous match against Newcastle having been switched to Friday Dec. 30 - for television.

“I am not happy with this situation,” Mancini said. “To have just two days when everyone else is having at least three days is not correct. I don’t know why this is - well I do, it’s for TV. To play twice in 48 hours will make a difference, in the run of fixtures we are currently in. I think United will win their next game. It is more difficult for us going away to Sunderland and then having to play within 48 hours again.”