Daniel Taylor
Monday November 5, 2007
The Guardian
Rolando Bianchi
Rolando Bianchi is reportedly unsettled at Man City. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Sven-Goran Eriksson has made very few mistakes since his appointment as manager of Manchester City but the signing of Rolando Bianchi is starting to look like an expensive error of judgment. The Italian striker was bought for £9m from Reggina but he has been become so unhappy recently that he has been compelled to clarify his position with Eriksson ahead of tonight's game against Sunderland.
Bianchi, the most expensive of Eriksson's eight foreign recruits, scored in the first league game of the season against West Ham but, after a promising start, his only other goal since then came against Bristol City in the Carling Cup on August 29. He has since informed Eriksson that he has found it difficult to settle in Manchester, and it cannot be ruled out that he will seek a return to Italy when the transfer window opens in January.
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Eriksson said their talks had been amicable, describing his player as making his point in a "polite" fashion, but he accepted that it had been a difficult start for the former Reggina forward. Bianchi was one of Serie A's more prolific strikers, scoring 19 times last season, but his standing at City has fallen to the point that he has lost his place in the last two games to Georgios Samaras, the Greek striker whose own problems in front of goal have led to him being nicknamed "Tragedy" by fans.
"Bianchi is trying very hard," said Eriksson, when asked about the player's homesickness. "I think it is getting better and better. He understands more English now and he has friends here."
City responded well to their 6-0 defeat at Chelsea nine days ago by winning 1-0 at Bolton in the Carling Cup last Wednesday, setting up a quarter-final against Tottenham and the possibility of reaching the last four of a competition for the first time since the FA Cup final in 1981.
Micah Richards will be missing tonight because of a knee injury. Vedran Corluka moves across from right-back and, in turn, his place goes to Nedum Onuoha.
Monday November 5, 2007
The Guardian
Rolando Bianchi
Rolando Bianchi is reportedly unsettled at Man City. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Sven-Goran Eriksson has made very few mistakes since his appointment as manager of Manchester City but the signing of Rolando Bianchi is starting to look like an expensive error of judgment. The Italian striker was bought for £9m from Reggina but he has been become so unhappy recently that he has been compelled to clarify his position with Eriksson ahead of tonight's game against Sunderland.
Bianchi, the most expensive of Eriksson's eight foreign recruits, scored in the first league game of the season against West Ham but, after a promising start, his only other goal since then came against Bristol City in the Carling Cup on August 29. He has since informed Eriksson that he has found it difficult to settle in Manchester, and it cannot be ruled out that he will seek a return to Italy when the transfer window opens in January.
Article continues
Eriksson said their talks had been amicable, describing his player as making his point in a "polite" fashion, but he accepted that it had been a difficult start for the former Reggina forward. Bianchi was one of Serie A's more prolific strikers, scoring 19 times last season, but his standing at City has fallen to the point that he has lost his place in the last two games to Georgios Samaras, the Greek striker whose own problems in front of goal have led to him being nicknamed "Tragedy" by fans.
"Bianchi is trying very hard," said Eriksson, when asked about the player's homesickness. "I think it is getting better and better. He understands more English now and he has friends here."
City responded well to their 6-0 defeat at Chelsea nine days ago by winning 1-0 at Bolton in the Carling Cup last Wednesday, setting up a quarter-final against Tottenham and the possibility of reaching the last four of a competition for the first time since the FA Cup final in 1981.
Micah Richards will be missing tonight because of a knee injury. Vedran Corluka moves across from right-back and, in turn, his place goes to Nedum Onuoha.
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