Roberto Mancini wants Manchester City to do their talking on the pitch

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has sidestepped questions about the club becoming "the biggest and best in the world".

The remarks were apparently made by chief executive Garry Cook at a fans forum in New York.

According to Sky Sports News, he said : "This football club is, without doubt, going to be the biggest and best football club in the world.

"I will make no excuses for saying it, as I truly believe it - with the resources and capabilities we have."

Cook's comments come ahead of a potentially volatile Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United on Wednesday at Old Trafford.

City hold a 2-1 advantage thanks to a brace from Carlos Tevez, who was involved in touchline spat with former team-mate Gary Neville.

Police have appealed for calm with a place at Wembley against Aston Villa at stake for the winners.

Mancini, however, is only focussing on football matters, beginning with the FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe on Sunday.

About City going on to be the best, he said: "Our supporters are the best. They are very very important for us."

While Mancini's men are mixing it with the Coca-Cola Championship side in the fourth round, Emmanuel Adebayor is expected back in Manchester.

The former Arsenal striker has been on leave in Togo following the machine-gun attack on the national team coach which left three people dead before the start of the African Nations Cup.

Mancini has hinted that Adebayor could be involved against United.

He said: "It will be difficult but we will assess him and he could be on the bench."

Mancini, meanwhile, has told Tevez not to make any further remarks about about Gary Neville.

Tevez described the United captain as an "idiot" and a "boot-licker" after the first leg.

Mancini said: "I think these things can sometimes happen after a match.

"The players are tired and sometimes they do not think what they are saying.

"It is important that this matter is finished now as we need to focus on our next game."

Mancini has told his side to be on their guard against Scunthorpe and not go the way of Manchester United and Liverpool, who lost to lower league teams.

He added: "I know City beat them in the Carling Cup but we need to have the right mentality.

"It will be difficult on a small pitch and they will be strong. I have seen Scunthorpe on video.

"The FA Cup is important to us and we want to progress. We most remember what happened to Liverpool against Reading and Manchester United against Leeds."

Midfielder Stephen Ireland is likely to return to the team after being on the bench in midweek following his recovery from injury.

Roque Santa Cruz and recent signing Patrick Vieira are both sidelined with calf injuries.