Mancini makes Balotelli admission

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini accepts it will be tough keeping Mario Balotelli happy if he continues to miss big matches.

Balotelli did not even make City's squad for the high-profile Champions League encounter with Real Madrid on Tuesday. Mancini rejected talk of a bust-up between the pair, insisting it had been a "tactical decision".

"It is difficult to keep Mario happy if he isn't first choice," said Mancini. "He was upset. This is normal. I don't think any player who doesn't play in the Bernabeu is happy about it. But we have four top players up front. Usually we play with two and the other two are on the bench."

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.