Tevez moves United to the edge

CHANTS of ‘Fergie, Fergie sign him up” rang around the JJB Stadium as Carlos Tevez inspired Manchester United to a victory that leaves them just a point from retaining their title.

And while Alex Ferguson insisted after the win that he wants Tevez to stay at Old Trafford, a spokesman for Tevez’s advisor, Kia Joorabchian, last night denied the club had made an offer aimed at keeping the Argentinian at Old Trafford.

The Argentinian equalised with an impudent back-heel after Hugo Rodallega had given the Latics a first-half lead before Michael Carrick scored an 87th-minute winner to leave United only a point away from retaining their Premier League title.

“He is a fantastic player,” said Ferguson. “He knows I want him to stay. I had a chat with him today and (chief executive) David Gill has had meetings with him.

“I’m sorry I have to keep on going on about this, it has never changed. (The fact) we’re not negotiating with a football club is the problem – we’ll see.”

Joorabchian’s spokesman said: “It is true David Gill came to see Mr Joorabchian and they had a cordial meeting. It is categorically untrue that Manchester United made an offer to try to persuade Carlos Tevez to stay at the club.

“In 2007 Manchester United agreed a two-year loan deal for Carlos Tevez and at the same time agreed the terms that would make the transfer permanent. They have not taken up that option.”

United were struggling when he arrived on the pitch after 58 minutes but his cleverly-flicked finish from a miss-hit Carrick shot rescued United who were trailing to a first-half strike from Hugo Rodallega at the time.

The goal set up a typically breathless finale and the victory means United need just one point from their final two games of the season, at home to Arsenal on Saturday and away to Hull a week later, to be crowned champions for the third year in succession.

But it could not have happened without Tevez, who feels he may have to leave United to get more regular football and who has been linked with a move to of all places Liverpool where his compatriot Javier Mascherano is on the books.

Until his introduction, it was the kind of match that only really happens in England. Wigan, one of the smallest clubs in the top flight and suffering a miserable run of form are suddenly inspired in the pouring rain to give the champions a real run for their money.

The home side should have taken the lead after two minutes.

Rodellega’s flick sent Antonio Valencia sprinting away but the winger, a reported transfer target for United, tried a fancy chip when faced with keeper Edwin van der Sar and sent it woefully wide.

The champions did respond, Rooney missing a wonderful chance from a Berbatov cross and Carrick narrowly failing to finish off a flowing, textbook United move.

But Wigan, amazingly, were the better side. They out-muscled United in key areas, with Lee Cattermole and Colombian Rodellega outstanding, and with 29 minutes gone, they finally broke through.

It was a long diagonal ball from Cattermole that caught United out, Vidic making a complete mess of dealing with it under pressure from Rodellega – and allowing the striker to slash home a left-foot shot on the turn from 10 yards.

Ferguson’s response, rather typically, was not to defend more but to attack more, bringing on Carlos Tevez in place of midfielder.

And his gamble paid immediate dividends, Tevez’s goal coming three minutes later.

United then set about looking for a winner and they got it when Carrick elegantly curled home a sweetly-hit shot to complete a wonderful and crucial victory.

The relieved goalscorer admitted they were made to battle.

“It (my goal) was worth the wait,” he said. “To score goals as important as that is a great feeling – I had to make up for the miss in the first half, it’s a great feeling.

“Wigan came at us and caused a few problems. It’s not the first time we have come from behind – we did it the hard way.”

Alex Ferguson will be hoping the job can now be completed in front of his own fans at Old Trafford on Saturday. But his first job after lifting the trophy should be to sort out Tevez’s contract once and for all.

WIGAN: Kingson 7; Melchiot 7, Bramble 7, Boyce 6, Figueroa 6, N’Zogbia 7 (Mido 82), Scharner 7, Cattermole 8, Brown 7, Valencia 7, Rodallega 9

MANCHESTER UNITED: Van der Sar 7; O’Shea 6, Vidic 5, Evans 6, Evra 6; Ronaldo 6, Anderson 6 (Tevez 58, 9), Carrick 8, Scholes 6 (Giggs 75, 6), Rooney 7; Berbatov 5 (Park 89)

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).