the naysayers won
But Real Madrid was talking about it and I couldn't do anything. Blackburn play with 10 players behind the ball and if you don't score you have a problem."Meanwhile Chelsea boss Villas-Boas breathed a sigh of relief after watching his team down struggling Bolton 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.Second-half goals from David Luiz, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard gave Villas-Boas something to smile about after a difficult week which saw the Blues pushed to the brink of elimination from the Champions League.The victory - Chelsea's first in five league matches - saw Villas-Boas's side move back into the Champions League qualification places, three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday."It was important to win after all the recent disappointments.
London: Manchester City's wayward striker Mario Balotelli has accepted a two-week fine over his poor disciplinary record and dropped an appeal to a Premier League tribunal, the club announced on Wednesday.Lawyers representing the Italy international had been due to present an appeal on his behalf to a tribunal on Wednesday,jersey italy world cup 2014, after City reportedly fined him two weeks' wages for his on-pitch misdemeanours last season.However, following talks between Balotelli and the club, the 22-year-old agreed to withdraw his case and accept his punishment."After amicable talks between the parties, as a sign of respect for (manager) Roberto Mancini,usa world cup 2014 jersey, the supporters and the club, Mario Balotelli has chosen to accept a two week fine levied upon him by the club and withdraw his disciplinary appeal, which was due to be heard by a Premier League panel today (Wednesday),nigeria world cup jersey," City said in a statement."Mario remains available for selection for all forthcoming fixtures."Balotelli missed 11 domestic and European games through suspension last season and he has endured a difficult start to the current campaign, scoring just once in the Premier League.Mancini has twice dropped him from City's match-day squad and he was substituted at half-time of the English champions' 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United earlier this month.Mancini has repeatedly voiced his frustration at Balotelli's inability to harness his talent, prompting speculation that the player could leave the club during the January transfer window.Balotelli joined City from Inter Milan for £24 million ($39.1 million, 29.4 million euros) in 2010.He has been linked with a move to Inter's city rivals AC Milan but his agent says he has no intention of leaving the Etihad Stadium.