Mancini unfazed by Cole comments

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has dismissed Ashley Cole following a fracas in the tunnel after Chelsea’s 2-1 win over the league leaders.

Chelsea full-back Cole is thought to have gotten under the skin of the visitors after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, after a late Frank Lampard penalty had given the home side all three points.

City started the brighter of the two teams, going ahead through Mario Balotelli after just two minutes, but a goal from Raul Meireles restored parity just after the half-hour mark before Lampard’s spot kick sealed the win.

Mancini admitted he did not understand what Cole had said in the tunnel, but said he can be happy if Chelsea were riled up because it meant his side are a ‘top team’.

“I don’t know if Cole said something,” he said. “I didn’t understand it, but if the Chelsea players are saying we are a top team, for us that’s really important.”

“They were lively because they beat a top team.”

Lampard said the result had left the team highly charged but insisted there is still respect between the two sides.

“Sometimes you get overheated,” he said. “Big games, big players who want to win things on both sides, and there was a bit of frustration.”

“I’ve been involved in that before but there’s general respect from both teams to each other.”