It was a pity that Roberto Mancini should bite back after Joe Hart aired his frustration at Man City’s late loss in Madrid.

How refreshing to get such an honest interview from the England keeper in the immediate aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner. And how predictable that his manager should get the hump about it.

Bosses are always wary of players speaking out and going “off message”. That’s why those you want to interview have to be cleared first at 99 per cent of clubs.

Readers and reporters want spicy, entertaining quotes but that becomes harder as the establishment cracks down. Like any business, football doesn’t welcome any form of negative publicity.

So however the questions are couched, you too often get the clichés and tired soundbites that have been trotted out a thousand times before.

What Hart said was hardly anarchic. He didn’t single out individuals and bad-mouth team-mates. His words were spot on. Manchester City have to be bigger and better than just accepting an unlucky defeat, even if it is inflicted by Real Madrid.

Mancini’s thin-skinned response was completely unnecessary. But for those working in the industry, it won’t have come as a surprise.