"We tried to convince him to return but he said no, he'd prefer to stay with his family, " revealed the former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager.

BBC: Fabio Capello makes surprise England World Cup choices

But those statistics were rendered meaningless on an afternoon of triumph for City coach and former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini, who pitted his wits in the Premier League for the first time against ex-AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti.

BBC: Chelsea 2-4 Man City

On a day dominated by speculation linking City striker Mario Balotelli with a move to AC Milan, manager Roberto Mancini might have hoped for a victory to concentrate on instead.

CNN: U.S. star Altidore suffers racial abuse

The 50-year-old Italian guided AC Milan to victories in 2003 and 2007 as manager and won it twice as a player with the club in 1989 and 1990.

BBC: Carlo Ancelotti

Just 24 hours after resigning from his highly-successful eight-year stint at Italy's AC Milan, he has been announced as the new manager of English Premier League club Chelsea -- replacing temporary manager Guus Hiddink.

CNN: Carlo Ancelotti: Chelsea's new manager

Gullit, a former world player of the year, AC Milan, Chelsea and Netherlands midfielder as well as Chelsea manager, was Kalou's mentor at Feyenoord.

BBC: Even if I 'm not in the groove I have to fight to stay in the team