City in denial as Tevez’s Mancini rift grows

IT MAY be that Manchester City are desperately, clumsily, attempting to paper over the cracks in the growing rift between their best player Carlos Tevez and manager Roberto Mancini but, as long as the Argentinian forward maintains the level of play that won his side their latest three points, there need be no major concerns.

However, there is no denying that relations between Tevez, who is repeatedly described as being unhappy at Eastlands and homesick for Argentina, and his manager struck a new low towards the end of Saturday’s victory over Bolton.

Just 24 hours after Mario Balotelli and Jerome Boateng were photographed brawling on the City training ground, Tevez reacted furiously when he was taken off in the final minute of the game.

He exchanged angry words with Mancini, with some reports even claiming the tempestuous South American had to be restrained from continuing the argument while the game continued.

City’s spin doctors moved quickly afterwards by issuing a comment reportedly made by Tevez, claiming his relationship with Mancini is sound.

However, the interview with Tevez had taken place last week, before the Bolton game, and actually referred back to another controversial substitution in which he was involved, during the recent home draw with Birmingham.

That clumsy attempt to smooth over the dispute could not conceal the fact that there are clearly major splits growing in City’s ranks of highly-paid, high-maintenance millionaire footballers.

Even Bolton forward Kevin Davies joined the debate on his Twitter account, speaking accurately, if succinctly, on the subject.

Davies wrote: “Seeing Tevez reaction to being subbed assures me there is problems within at City, great players individually but as a team??”

Later, the England centre-forward added: “I think if you are being subbed it is the managers decision and also you should show bit of respect to the player coming on.’’

It all made Tevez’s club statement ring a little hollow as City quoted him saying: “Of course I get on well with Roberto and I back him 100%.

“I was disappointed for instance that my substitution against Birmingham recently resulted in some of our fans showing displeasure towards him.

“To criticise the manager for his decisions is unfair because we need to be patient; there is a long way to go in the season.

“Roberto and I get on. We discuss lots of things both in public and in private. We are both passionate football people and we both want the same things for Manchester City and that is success. We both want to win.”

The rift adds to the growing assumption that Tevez will not be around for the long-term at City although, as long as he is playing at his current level, that will not unduly concern Mancini for now even if he currently does not seem to possess another player capable of scoring an important goal.

Against Bolton, it was Tevez who converted a through ball from Yaya Toure after just four minutes, his 10th goal of a brilliant campaign.

Given that City have only scored 21 league goals all season, that is an eye-catching statistic.

And with Tevez suspended for next week’s visit to West Ham, possibly a worrying one, also.

It certainly put pressure on promising youngster Balotelli who has looked brilliant in flashes for City.

“I think it’s time we started to win without Carlos. Now we have that chance and it will be a difficult game away to West Ham,” said Mancini.

“If Mario plays near the goal he can score a lot of goals, like on Wednesday against Salzburg. He is young and must improve in every situation. This year is important for him. In the Premier League you can take a lot of kicks in every game, every tackle is difficult.

“It’s very different to the football in Italy. If he can improve in these situations he can become a strong player.’’

Balotelli, of course, was involved in the training ground confrontation with Boateng this week and the latter was not even in the City squad for the Bolton game, sparking suggestions he had been punished by the club — a claim Mancini rejected.

“Jerome was fit but I had three defenders and one must stay in the stands,” he said. “Today that was Jerome. I love Jerome.’’

Of Friday’s spat, Mancini added: “It started and finished in three seconds. This situation happens in every team every day. When you play a match, you play 100% and there are some tackles but Jerome is a fantastic guy and Mario’s the same.’’

For all these problems, however, City are only three points off Arsenal in first place and are well capable of winning the title, according to Bolton boss Owen Coyle.

“What you’ve seen today, what you saw sat on the substitutes’ bench and sat in the stands, they have quality in reserve,” said Coyle. “They will have freshness because of that. They can chop and change, and play different styles and different systems.

“And in Tevez I believe they have a truly world-class player. He’s different class.’’