Samir Nasri has reacted with disappointment to Roberto Mancini’s quip that he wanted to punch the French midfielder due to his inconsistency.
Former Arsenal player Nasri was outstanding for Mancini’s Manchester City in their 4-0 weekend win over Newcastle in the Barclays Premier League.
However he has struggled to string together impressive displays for last season’s champions and City manager Mancini expressed his frustration over Nasri after the crushing win over Alan Pardew’s men.
Mancini was widely quoted as saying: “I would like to give him a punch. Because a player like him should play like this always.”
Mancini also said he felt some City players were only playing at 50% of their ability this season.
Speaking to French sports broadcaster beIN Sport, Nasri said: “Mancini has shown a little proof of bad faith when he said he wanted to punch me.
“I’ve not had a good season, I know it, I’m aware of that. I am the first to be self-critical. But it’s not true that I’m playing at 50%.
“I think the coach still doesn’t handle English very well and sometimes uses expressions that aren’t really suitable.”