Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he would love Manchester City to axe Mario Balotelli for Sunday's crunch clash at Stamford Bridge.
Balotelli has issued a formal apology to his team-mates for the costly red card, earned for planting his studs into the chest and thigh of Dynamo defender Goran Popov.
It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old's contrition proves enough for him to keep his place but Ancelotti hopes not.
"He's a fantastic player so I'd prefer him to stay out," Ancelotti said.
"Technically, he's one of the best players out there."
Balotelli's career has been dogged by controversy, both at Inter Milan and now with City.
Ancelotti urged the Italy forward to mend his ways, if only for the good of his country's national team.
"He had a lot of problems with his behaviour on the pitch, also in Italy, but I'm not able to judge him," Ancelotti said of his fellow Italian.
"He's one of the best young players in Italy and Italian football needs this kind of quality.
"Everyone in Italy hopes he will improve his behaviour on the pitch.
"The Italian national team needs him in the squad. We hope his behaviour improves."
As well as wanting Balotelli to miss Sunday's game, Ancelotti was hoping Mancini would also leave out the misfiring Carlos Tevez.
Argentina star Tevez has failed to score in his last seven games but he has tormented Chelsea since joining City in 2009, scoring four times in three successive victories against the Londoners.
"He's scored a lot of goals against us, and he remains a fine player. We have to pay particular attention to him."
Tevez's goals have helped make City Chelsea's bogey side since Ancelotti came to England.
He has also yet to get the better of Mancini, who he pitted his wits against for three years while the pair were in charge of AC Milan and Inter Milan, respectively.
Mancini has won five of their last six head-to-head encounters, nullifying Ancelotti's more adventurous approach with counter-attacking football.
"It's not a frustration," said Ancelotti, whose side need to beat City to leapfrog them into third place and maintain their slim hopes of retaining their league title.
"Counter-attacking is a good tactic because you have a lot of space to attack."
