Inter Milan coach Roberto
Mancini on Monday apologised on Twitter to AC Milan fans for
giving them the finger after he was sent off during Inter's 3-0
loss in the Milan derby Sunday night.
"I apologise to the fans for an angry gesture I shouldn't
have made," he tweeted.
Mancini was in an angry mood Sunday. He also blasted the
match officials after being red carded for dissent, describing
them as a "disaster".
The Marche-born coach got a one-match ban for insulting
the ref Monday.
Mancini also rowed with Mediaset journalist Mikaela
Calcagno, saying she was talking "crap" when she asked him
whether there was a link between his criticism of his forwards
and Argentine striker Mauro Icardi's penalty miss.
Social networks ran amok with reactions to Mancini's
behaviour, accusing him of inconsistency after being outraged
after a recent Italian Cup match when Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri
called him a "queer".
Speaking on Inter channel Monday morning, Mancini also
apologised to the Inter faithful "for the way we lost the
derby".
The transformation of the usually calm, softly spoken
former Italy striker has been seen by many as a sign of
frustration at his side's poor form.
Inter were four clear at the top of Serie A before losing
the final game before Serie A's winter break 2-1 to Lazio.
They have since slipped down to fourth in 41 points, nine
points behind leaders Napoli.
They also suffered a 3-0 defeat to Juventus last week in
the first leg of their Italian Cup semi-final.
There are reports that Mancini's relationship with Icardi,
Serie A's joint top scorer last season with 22 goals, has broken
down and the Argentine could be heading for a Premier League
club.
Icardi was left out of the starting line up against both
Milan and Juventus.
Some people in the game, however, are willing to cut
Mancini a break.
"It's true that Mancini has been a bit bad-tempered
recently," Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi
told RAI radio.
"But you should not condemn this. Heavy pressure gets to
everyone, even those with lots of experience".
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