Pardew - 'That Tackle Is In The Past'

Last updated : 18 January 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

If the referee had shown a red card, Yanga-Mbiwa would be sitting out today's fixture at West Ham.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini claimed Yanga-Mbiwa should have been dismissed for the tackle, which left the forward facing eight weeks on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.

Alan Pardew: “Apologising, the way he’s done it, is the right way to do it.

“I don’t think it will affect him. He’ll be fine.

"He’s a strong character.

“Mapou’s sent a letter to Nasri. There was no malicious intent. He’s his fellow player in the national side.

“I think if you break a player’s leg, that’s different.

“The player will be psychologically affected.

“No player goes out to hurt another one. In Mapou’s case, I don’t think that was the case.

“He genuinely tried to stop play. He did it in a robust way, and he’s got injured.”