Neville’s Tevez comments lost in translation, claims Evans

JONNY EVANS feels Carlos Tevez has got himself worked up about nothing in his spat with Manchester United skipper Gary Neville.

Tevez and Neville exchanged gestures immediately after the Argentina star’s equaliser in Tuesday’s Carling Cup semi-final at Eastlands.

There has then followed an explosive radio interview in which Tevez labelled Neville a “moron” and “bootlicker” and claimed his former skipper said he was not worth £25 million (€28.4m).

That hot-headed reaction goes against the advice from both the FA and local police to cool it ahead of Wednesday’s decider at Old Trafford.

The trigger was an interview given by Neville to the Sunday Times in Malta in which he backed Ferguson’s decision to release Tevez.

In actual fact, Tevez was the one who opted to leave, with Ferguson among those convinced a £40m (€45.5m) deal with City – way in excess of the sum United were obliged to pay to turn a loan into a permanent transfer – was agreed long before the summer.

And Evans is not convinced Neville actually said what Tevez accused him of.

“Gary and Carlos are not team-mates any more and they don’t have to be pals but I think this has all been lost in translation a little bit,” said the Northern Ireland international.

“I don’t think Gary said Carlos wasn’t worth £25m. He was just saying the manager usually gets these decisions right and we will get on with it.

“From what I hear, either Carlos has read it wrong or someone is winding him up and he has reacted.”

Meanwhile City manager Roberto Mancini has sidestepped questions about the club becoming “the biggest and best in the world”.

The remarks were made by chief executive Garry Cook at a fans forum in New York.

Cook said: “This football club is, without doubt, going to be the biggest and best football club in the world.

“I will make no excuses for saying it, as I truly believe it – with the resources and capabilities we have.”

Mancini, however, is focussing on more imminent matters, beginning with the FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe tomorrow.

About City going on to be the best in the world, he said: “Our supporters are the best. They are very very important for us.”

The City boss has also told Tevez not to make any further remarks about Neville. Mancini said: “I think these things can sometimes happen after a match. The players are tired and sometimes they do not think what they are saying. It is important that this matter is finished now as we need to focus."