Carlos Tévez refusal falls on deaf ears
Tévez refusal to play falls on deaf ears
Roberto Mancini’s claim that Carlos Tévez refused to play in Manchester City’s Champions League match in Munich appeared weakened last night by a lack of support from the striker’s team-mates.
Tévez has been suspended by City for two weeks — which includes being barred from the training ground — pending an investigation into Mancini’s claim that the Argentinian refused to go on as a substitute during the club’s 2-0 defeat away to Bayern on Tuesday. The City manager said that Tévez would “never” play for him again, but the slim prospect of his being sacked from his £220,000-a-week contract being terminated seemed to have receded farther last night.
Mancini’s version of events is backed by at least two senior members of his coaching staff, but discussions among the City players at the training ground yesterday found agreement that none had heard Tévez say outright that he would not play. City’s investigation, which is being carried out after Mancini’s official complaint to the board, will rely heavily on eyewitnesses.
A shortage of backing for Mancini might be interpreted as undermining his position or as solidarity with Tévez, but the view filtering out of the City dressing room last night was simply that no player was certain he could testify that he had witnessed what the manager has claimed. In fact, the only person to have backed Mancini’s case against Tévez was the player himself when, in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday night, he said: “I didn’t feel right to play, so I didn’t.”
City are determined to make their investigation as thorough as possible — within two weeks — but have a Barclays Premier League match away to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow, after which many players will depart on international duty. Interviews will take place on their return if necessary.
Mancini addressed his squad yesterday as players were warned not to discuss the matter while the investigation is continuing. Mancini is also under orders not to talk about the incident.
Mancini’s resolve over Tévez goes beyond his actions on Tuesday night and the transfer requests of recent months. The manager will also cite the player’s initial refusal to take part in a mandatory warm-down after City’s 2-0 victory over Everton last Saturday, in which he was an unused substitute.
The City hierarchy, both in Manchester and in Abu Dhabi, have supported Mancini’s stance on Tévez. In a conference call on Wednesday night between Mancini, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman, John MacBeath, the acting chief executive, and the club’s lawyers, even the extreme option of terminating the player’s contract and taking him to court was discussed.
That seems unlikely unless a case of gross misconduct can be proved. Tévez believes that he has been unfairly treated by Mancini since submitting a transfer request in December, although his attitude since returning to pre-season training has been criticised by team-mates and coaching staff alike.
The likelihood remains that Tévez will be fined two weeks’ wages, with City petitioning the Professional Footballers’ Association to impose further sanctions if the case against the player can be proved, and will be sold when the transfer window opens in January. Corinthians, the Brazilian club, are likely to bid, while interest from Inter Milan and Real Madrid is possible.
Mancini cleared the air yesterday with Edin Dzeko, who apologised for his petulant reaction to his substitution against Bayern. “I know my reaction [to being substituted] was bad and I have spoken to the guys and to the coach,” the forward said. “I have apologised and Roberto has accepted it and said we have to be positive for the next game.” Dzeko is not thought to have been fined and could be involved against Blackburn.