Crash landing! Tevez flies back to Manchester but his City future remains bleak
Carlos Tevez arrived back at Manchester City on Tuesday night, but his chances of playing for the club again are still remote.
Tevez was given a police escort when he flew into Manchester after more than three months AWOL in Argentina, then went to City’s training ground for medical tests.
However, any fans hoping the club’s former captain will soon be back in the first-team picture look set to be disappointed as it emerged just how irritated manager Roberto Mancini and the board at the Etihad Stadium are about a TV interview Tevez gave before leaving Argentina, in which he claimed Mancini has treated him ‘like a dog’.
Scroll down for video
Remember the cold Carlos Tevez is given a police escort at the airport
It is understood the Italian is aware of
the full contents of the interview and that the club board in
particular are now considering fining Tevez again. There may be a club
statement issued on Wednesday.
Mancini flies to Portugal with the City squad on Wednesday for a Europa
League tie against Porto on Thursday night and is adamant talk of Tevez
will not overshadow his preparation.
However, what is clear is that there is no way back into the City team
for Tevez unless he says sorry for refusing to warm up at Bayern Munich
last September and for fleeing the country two months later. In all
likelihood, this apology will have to be made public by Tevez and
underlined in private to his manager. Last night, Tevez’s advisers were
aware of this and preparing to talk it through with their star client.
Look who's back: Tevez arrives at Carrington to discuss his future with City officials
Making an entrance: Tevez returns to City's training HQ for the first time this year
Mancini is pragmatic enough not to write the Argentine off completely as
an asset and is prepared to listen to what he has to say when City
return to Manchester on Friday. Equally, though, he is understood to be
prepared, if necessary, to let Tevez return to solitary training.
To Mancini, avoiding any situation that could undermine City’s push for the Barclays Premier League title is paramount.
On Tuesday, Tevez was examined by one of City’s sport scientists. He was
weighed and had measurements taken for body fat and aerobic capacity.
He will now begin training one-on-one with a fitness coach.
We can see you! Tevez in his City training gear
It is understood Tevez received text messages from several City players
welcoming him back. Referring to the return of Tevez, plus Yaya and Kolo
Toure from international duty, defender Joleon Lescott said on Twitter:
‘All our players are excited to have Carlos, Kolo and Yaya back to help
achieve our goal.’
The Toure brothers, who have been on Africa Cup of Nations duty, are
flying from the Ivory Coast to Portugal today. Both are available for
selection.
In
an astonishing outburst on the eve of his return from three months in
self-imposed exile, Tevez reignited his row with Mancini over the
infamous fall-out in Munich and blamed City for forcing him to seek
refuge with his family back home in Argentina, saying: ‘I
couldn’t understand why I wasn’t playing.
Let's kickstart his career: Roberto Mancini prepares for Tevez on Tuesday
Brace yourselves… City train on Tuesday ahead of Tevez's arrival
Heading back: Tevez heads to the airport in Buenos Aires before checking in to fly to Manchester
‘Mancini had taken the captain’s armband
away from me without telling me why or even speaking to me about it, so
a lot of things had happened and I was in a bad mood.
‘I had already warmed up in the first half but he told me to keep on
warming up. He treated me like a dog. When he spoke to me in that tone
of voice, I said, “No I’m not going out”. I was willing to play but the
coach was in such a foul mood because he’s had an argument with Dzeko
that he started on me as well, and began swearing. He said some horrible
things to me.’
Tevez was fined four weeks’ wages – later reduced to two – following a
club investigation into the incident, but he blames City’s support of
Mancini and the reaction of fans for his decision to flee to Argentina.
He added: ‘The club statement protected the manager. That’s why I was
angry and didn’t want to return. I was affected because of this
situation and I wanted to find shelter with my family.
Controversy: Tevez had a bust-up with Mancini on the bench in Munich
‘To be insulted by fans after what happened in Munich was something I
didn’t deserve. They were misinformed, so when they were told that I
didn’t want to play they naturally turned against me.
‘I gave everything to that club and when I saw them burning my shirt with my name on it or hurling insults it really hurt.’
Tevez opened up on his tempestuous relationship with Mancini, claiming
that the City boss would not have been as tough last season before
fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero had joined the club.
‘Mancini’s position got stronger when Kun Aguero arrived,’ said Tevez.
‘I don’t know if he would have done the things he did if this was last
season.
Happier times: Tevez is hoping to win over the doubters on his return to City
‘Last season we almost hit each other in the dressing-room after a game
against Newcastle, but he’s got a better team this season and felt like
making the decision.
‘I like that Mancini has said that he will welcome me back but he also
said I was never going to play for him again, so I don’t know.’
Tevez’s condition will be assessed once he reports back to Carrington
and he will be given a training programme to get him back to full
fitness. Whether he makes the apology Mancini has demanded is another
matter, however.
He added: ‘I’ve been training on my own and I know I can be back on the
pitch in two weeks. There’s no need for City to make me have two
training sessions a day – I’ll do it myself. I have decided to go back
for personal reasons to see if I can turn this situation around, start
scoring goals again and play for the shirt. It’s also a decision I’ve
taken to try to win back the supporters.
Back in the swing: Tevez has been at home in Argentina since November
‘I know this is going to be difficult but I will accept this challenge. I
know I have to play better than I ever did. I have discovered the love
for the game again.’ Tevez did not help his cause by naming Sir Alex
Ferguson as one of the two best coaches he has ever worked with, and
praising his former Manchester United team-mates Paul Scholes, Ryan
Giggs and Wayne Rooney.
The player’s advisor Kia Joorabchian attempted to limit the damage on
Monday night, saying: ‘What Carlos is explaining in his interview is how
he felt back then. The club and Carlos have been talking about things
in a positive way, and he has said that he is ready to apologise if he
has done something wrong.
‘He is in a totally different mode now. He wants to come back and thinks
City have been very good to him in the last couple of months.
‘His main objective is to come back and help City win the title.’
DM.has('rcpv1451377138001','BCVideo');
