Tevez says Mancini treated him ‘like a dog’

Carlos Tevez has broken his silence over his rebel stance with Manchester City and claims he has returned to England to help City win their first league title since 1968.

In his first interview since speaking out directly after refusing to warm up during the match against Bayern Munich last September, he had harsh words for manager Roberto Mancini that will test their truce talks set for today at City’s training-ground.

Tevez also hit out at City fans for harassing him after the controversy.

Mancini had offered an olive-branch to the Argentine rebel, and Tevez has admitted that his four months away from the club have been painful for him.

But now Tevez has threatened to end the peace process before it has even begun by giving his version of events in Munich, claiming that Mancini lied about him, insulted him, and even treated him ‘like a dog’.

Tevez has spent the last four months in a self-imposed press silence but has broken it in astonishing style, with a no-holds-barred interview on Argentine station Fox Sports.

“I want people to know the truth,’’ said Tevez.

“People have been against me since the Bayern game but I’m going back to Manchester because I want to win the love of the fans again. When people heard that I didn’t want to play against Bayern, they became mad with me.

“When I saw my shirts burning, that really hurt me. I was upset and very angry with the fans. But if I score goals, people will love me again.’’

Tevez, who turned 28, last week, may find it harder to get back into Mancini’s affections after his outspoken comments, which focused on the events of September 27 last year, when Mancini accused him of refusing to play against Bayern.

Tensions between the two were already high because Tevez was not happy at having the captaincy taken from him without explanation.

“I didn’t want to warm up again against Bayern,’’ Tevez admitted. “I had done that already with [Nigel] De Jong. Mancini asked me to warm up again and I went, but I was surprised. I was angry with Mancini, also because I was not the captain anymore, and he did not explain that decision to me.

“Mancini sent me to warm up as if I were a dog. I didn’t say anything back to him, you can see that on the TV. Mancini said some awful things to me though.

“[After the game] Man City investigated me, the players and the staff were asked about it, even Mancini and I were talked to, and as a result, no-one said that I had refused to go on the pitch.

“Mancini said immediately that I was out of the team. I told Mancini that I had been ready to go on against Bayern. He treated me so bad. He insulted me.

“Mancini didn’t want me to see me at all. I was worried about my image, as I was then destroyed by the press. I wanted Manchester City to tell the truth to the fans. I told them, ‘I’m a City employee, you have to take care of me.’

“Mancini lied about me and the City directors knew it. They looked after Mancini.’’

Tevez went on to say that the coach’s position gained strength when Sergio Aguero arrived as the team was no longer so reliant on Tevez to produce moments of magic.

As the Argentine put it: “Last season, Manchester City was Tevez and no-one else.

“Mancini became stronger thanks to Kun [Aguero]. I don’t know if he would have done the things he did if this was last season, but Dzeko, Kun and even [Maro] Balotelli are playing well. So Mancini decided to sack me, but he could have done that to me last year. Against Newcastle last year, we were separated by my team-mates because we wanted to punch each other. He was about to punch me but he didn’t sack me from the team.’’

Tevez also hit out at the fans for taking such a strong anti-Tevez stance.

“I don’t remember the City fans with love, but I understand them, because City lied to them. I did many things for City — but the whole of Manchester insulted me in the streets and I didn’t deserve that.

“Mancini managed the situation after Bayern Munich so badly.

“It’s normal to have fights in a dressing-room, but Mancini was wrong. If it’s true that Mancini wants me, I’m happy, but I don’t know if he is saying the truth, because he can be contradictory.”

Tevez is still hopeful that he can get back to playing but after these comments, and his refusal to apologise, it’s hard to see how he and Mancini can mend their relationship.

“To go back to Manchester City is a challenge for me,’’ Tevez added.

“I can see myself playing again for City. Four months ago, I thought about quitting football — but now I have never wanted to play football as much as I do today.”