It’s all over: Mancini will never pick Tevez again as City implode
BAYERN MUNICH 2 vs MANCHESTER CITY 0
MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini insists Carlos Tevez has no future at the club while he is at the helm, after the Argentina striker refused to come on as a substitute during last night’s comprehensive Champions League defeat in Munich.
Having taken just one point from their first two games, City now face an uphill struggle to qualify for the knockout stages after Mario Gomez’s first half brace inflicted a first loss of the season on Mancini’s side.
But the ramifications of Tevez’s snub, coupled with Edin Dzeko’s furious reaction to being withdrawn, could have far more damaging consequences for a side whose morale has often been called into question.
“While I am manager, Carlos will not play again,” said Mancini. “I don’t want another situation like this. Never. With me, he is finished. This can’t happen in a top club.
“Do you think a player can do this at Bayern Munich, AC Milan or Manchester United? Never.”
After the match, Tevez refused to apologise or properly explain his refusal to play.
“I did not feel I was right to play so I did not play,” he said. “I was the top scorer at the end of last season. I always act professionally so if Mancini does not want to play me again that is up to him.”
Mancini was equally dismissive of Dzeko’s behaviour – the Bosnia striker threw his tracksuit top on the floor after he was withdrawn early in the second half.
“If we want to improve to the level of Bayern, some players need to improve their behaviour,” Mancini said. “Dzeko was unhappy but I should be the one who is unhappy after his performance.”
The Tevez controversy largely overshadowed what was a masterful performance from the German side, who have now won 10 consecutive games in all competitions and gone 928 minutes without conceding.
City could point to two early penalty decisions that didn’t go their way, but Bayern deservedly took the lead in the 38th minute when Gomez pounced from close range after Joe Hart had saved from Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller.
And Hart was left frustrated again on the stroke of half time when Gomez reacted first after the England goalkeeper had repelled Daniel van Buyten’s header.