MARIO BALOTELLI got another touchline dressing down from Roberto Mancini - despite scoring against his old club Inter Milan.
The Italian bad boy was hauled off in Los Angeles last week for an outrageous piece of show-boating when clean through on goal.
This week he looked a real handful against the Serie A giants - but was still given a talking to by Mancini when he was subbed in the second half.
He could have scored several times and Mancini said: "We had a conversation when he came off.
"I was telling him that sometimes he needs to be more selfish. He had a chance to score but he passed instead - I told him that he could have shot.
"But it was not a problem. I hope he has learned from last week. I think he has but I don't really know.
"What I do know is that if he plays like today, he can be one of the best players."
New £35million signing Sergio Aguero looked on as Balotelli and fellow striker Edin Dzeko got on the scoresheet.
And there was a warning for skipper Carlos Tevez, who is due back at Carrington on Thursday, that he faces a battle for his place if he stays at City.
Mancini added: "When Carlos comes back on Thursday we will have four strikers fighting for the shirts.
"That's good for us. When you are playing in four competitions, we need that competition."
Balotelli had the ball in net within a couple of minutes of the start against his old club - but was flagged offside.
He also sent a header over and saw a shot brilliantly tipped over by Julio Cesar as City impressed against the Italians.
The goal for him which seemed to have been coming all half arrived right on half-time as Aleksandar Kolarov swung over a corner from the left.
Balotelli got in between two defenders to power home a header for his second in successive matches.
City added a stylish second soon after the re-start when David Silva's through ball sent Dzeko racing clear and the Bosnian finished clinically.
Adam Johnson wrapped it up late on, slotting in No 3 following a cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Aguero will have to wait until Sunday's Community Shield to make his City bow but he must have been impressed by his new team-mates.
Almost 12 months ago to the day, City were beaten 3-0 by Inter - fast forward a year and this shows what good shape Mancini's men are in.
They lifted the Dublin Super Cup after City beat a League of Ireland XI here on Saturday by the same score.
And Mancini is predicting big things from Dzeko in the coming season.
The Etihad boss said: "With Dzeko, it was tough for him last season because it was his first time in the Premier League.
"The first two or three months are difficult. But I am confident he will score lots of goals for us this season.
"The result here is not important. We played some good football. It's great preparation for the next game."
The Italian bad boy was hauled off in Los Angeles last week for an outrageous piece of show-boating when clean through on goal.
This week he looked a real handful against the Serie A giants - but was still given a talking to by Mancini when he was subbed in the second half.
He could have scored several times and Mancini said: "We had a conversation when he came off.
"I was telling him that sometimes he needs to be more selfish. He had a chance to score but he passed instead - I told him that he could have shot."But it was not a problem. I hope he has learned from last week. I think he has but I don't really know.
"What I do know is that if he plays like today, he can be one of the best players."
New £35million signing Sergio Aguero looked on as Balotelli and fellow striker Edin Dzeko got on the scoresheet.
And there was a warning for skipper Carlos Tevez, who is due back at Carrington on Thursday, that he faces a battle for his place if he stays at City.
Mancini added: "When Carlos comes back on Thursday we will have four strikers fighting for the shirts.
"That's good for us. When you are playing in four competitions, we need that competition."
Balotelli had the ball in net within a couple of minutes of the start against his old club - but was flagged offside.
He also sent a header over and saw a shot brilliantly tipped over by Julio Cesar as City impressed against the Italians.
The goal for him which seemed to have been coming all half arrived right on half-time as Aleksandar Kolarov swung over a corner from the left.
Balotelli got in between two defenders to power home a header for his second in successive matches.
City added a stylish second soon after the re-start when David Silva's through ball sent Dzeko racing clear and the Bosnian finished clinically.
Adam Johnson wrapped it up late on, slotting in No 3 following a cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Aguero will have to wait until Sunday's Community Shield to make his City bow but he must have been impressed by his new team-mates.
Almost 12 months ago to the day, City were beaten 3-0 by Inter - fast forward a year and this shows what good shape Mancini's men are in.
They lifted the Dublin Super Cup after City beat a League of Ireland XI here on Saturday by the same score.
And Mancini is predicting big things from Dzeko in the coming season.
The Etihad boss said: "With Dzeko, it was tough for him last season because it was his first time in the Premier League.
"The first two or three months are difficult. But I am confident he will score lots of goals for us this season.
"The result here is not important. We played some good football. It's great preparation for the next game."
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