Some interesting comments from Roberto Mancini following the defeat to Everton, in which he took the blame for the loss:

"I thought it may be easier," he said. "I didn't prepare us well and it is important for me to know my mistakes because I can't do the same in the next game. I should know here it is never easy - never.

"We had played well against Tottenham in our last game, we had won our last three Premier League games and Everton were missing three or four players. It was a bad night for me. It's going to be impossible for me to sleep tonight."

It is not the first time that Mancini has sought to take responsibility for a defeat: the 3-0 reversal at Liverpool at the tail end of the 2010/11 season saw him bemoan the preperation ahead of the game.

Mancini though did not elaborate last night as to the specifics regarding his perceived failings - although hinted at issues regarding training - but could his motive have been more of an attempt to deflect an increasing focus and attention away from the players (and a fourth defeat from nine in January) than a need for self-assessment?