The story appears on

Page B8

September 29, 2011

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeSportsSoccer

Tevez plays down row but Mancini says he is 'finished'

MANCHESTER City striker Carlos Tevez denied yesterday he had refused to come on as a substitute in its Champions League match against Bayern Munich and said he is ready to play on for the club.

Manager Roberto Mancini said that the Argentine had ignored his instruction to warm up early in the second half of Tuesday's 0-2 defeat in Germany and that Tevez was "finished" while he was manager.

Tevez appeared to refuse to leave the substitutes' bench when Mancini wanted to bring him on for Samir Nasri with around 30 minutes to go with City already trailing 0-2. Mancini, who also had angry words with their Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko after substituting him, told reporters that as far as he was concerned Tevez was "finished" at City.

The Italian, looking visibly shocked, told a news conference: "I am really disappointed because it is Carlos. This can't happen in a top club - to refuse to go in to help his teammates. What I said to Carlos is between me, him and the team.

"But if we want to improve as a team Carlos can't play with us. With me, he is finished.

"I helped him for two years every time. He refused to play. I cannot accept this behavior from him. I decide the substitutions, not Carlos."

Tevez, who has found controversy follow him from club to club, sought to placate City fans whom he has already angered over the past year with his open desire to leave the club.

"There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood," he said in a statement.

"I would like to apologize to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich. They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday, I had warmed up and was ready to play.

"This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play. Going forward, I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."

Tevez's words will fall on deaf ears at a club whose patience he has tested several times.

Last December he put in a transfer request that the club turned down. He made scathing comments about Manchester on an Argentine chat show in June, saying the city "has nothing" and is "very expensive" and that he was "never going back to Manchester, not even on holiday".



 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend