Interviews given by the former Blues skipper since his departure have sparked some controversy, but reflecting on the issue the Manager stressed:
“Richard obviously felt the need to discuss his thoughts on his departure from City, but the decision (to leave) was his. He was the only one to sign on the piece of paper to change from being a City player to being a Villa player.
“It was his decision and it was not as if he was forced out of the club. I have to say that it is a little bit unfair to highlight Garry Cook and his perceived role in the discussions. I have had great support from Garry, and from Khaldoon Al Mubarak as well. We work as a team to make sure the club is strong and competitive in the future.
“Decisions will be made that affect players, but we are trying to make Manchester City a good club and one that is successful in the future.”
Meanwhile, the Manager reckons that the strength-in-depth nature of his revamped City squad will cope well with the rigours of a season that will include the African Cup of Nations tournament, likely to feature both new captain Kolo Toure and striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
“We still have plenty of guys that can come in and compensate for any player we lose either through injury or international commitments. I am very comfortable with how the squad is shaping up,” he concluded
