Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has revealed that manager Roberto Mancini's harsh words about him earlier this year helped him save his season.
The Frenchman found himself on the bench for both City and the French national team with rumours growing about a move away from the club after he received criticism from his boss.
However, Nasri has turned his form around and looks likely to start in the FA Cup final - a feat that he has praised the Italian for.
"I didn't take it wrongly," Nasri told The Times. "He is the manager, he can say whatever he wants. I agreed with him.
"I knew. Sometimes I don't need him to tell me because I'm professional. When I go home, I watch the games again because I love football. I watch every game: second division, Premier League.
"I know if I've played well or if I've played s*** and, for eight months, I wasn't good. I didn't deserve to be in the national team. So I understand what the manager was saying because it must be frustrating when you have a quality player and he doesn't perform and you don't know why because you try to play him there; play him there, but he still doesn't perform."
City face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
Matt Cotton
