Mancini act of faith has its reward as Tevez rises to the challenge

|

UPDATED:

00:15 GMT, 22 March 2012

For Carlos Tevez and Manchester City this was the best of all possible worlds. The winning goal would have been too much. Redemption should not be that easy, the past not so conveniently erased.

Had Tevez scored the goal that defeated Chelsea with five minutes remaining there would have been a fair few reaching for the sick bag, even while in the throes of raucous celebration.

So this was a reasonable compromise. Tevez not the main part, but an essential component, providing an exquisite little pass to tee up Samir Nasri’s finish. The player could leave with head held high, the fans could celebrate without guilt and the man who emerged strongest of all from Tevez’s return was Roberto Mancini, the manager. Just as it should be.

In charge: Roberto Mancini has dealt with the Carlos Tevez situation with dignity from start to finish

Mancini’s name was loudly sung immediately after Tevez’s 66th-minute introduction — as if the locals wished to make it plain whose side they were on, still — and by the end there was no doubt Mancini was the winner.

The manager deserves enormous credit for his managerial acumen here. He put the needs of his team before any lingering animosity, he eschewed the opportunity for petty point scoring or a final twist of the knife. He was a grown-up. He has always been a grown-up. That is what set him apart from the other side.

Mancini had other striking options available when Gary Cahill scored for Chelsea. He could have brought on Edin Dzeko or switched a few around and introduced James Milner wide. Instead, he did what was right.

No sooner had the ball squirmed its way around Joe Hart than the order came. Warm up, strip off, get ready, Mancini told his problem child. This time there was no dissent. Tevez obliged instantly, without fuss. If only he had done so in Munich. Would City’s season have needed this reboot

Level terms: Sergio Aguero equalised for Manchester City from the penalty spot

And, because supporters are fickle creatures at the best of times, and utterly desperate in moments of crisis, there was an immediate smattering of cheers and applause. It did not last, this gratefulness. When Tevez came on, for Nigel de Jong, there were boos, too, from those with memories longer than the recent blip or a deflected Cahill shot; but the dissent evaporated as quickly as it rose. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, is the advice and most City fans followed it.

They offered no judgment either way, beyond hard stares. It was the same when Tevez had appeared before the game. They cared too much about winning to hound the player before such a crucial match, but they were not going to treat his unpermitted absence as water under the bridge, either. This made it initially quite awkward when Tevez was on the ball, too.

Winner: Samir Nasri clips the ball past Petr Cech after collecting a delightful pass from Tevez

Chasing the game, City needed encouragement, enthusiasm, not the uneasy silence that greeted Tevez in possession. He looked reasonably fit, he looked a fine player — let’s face it, his talent has never been in doubt — yet as City flagged and perspired, one could not help but think what pressure his temporary departure had placed on this forward line, particularly the key to it all, Sergio Aguero.

Tevez’s compatriot stood up boldly to convert the equalising penalty, but for much of the rest of the game he looked flat. Tevez should have taken up an additional 10-matches slack by now. What a difference that would have made.

This is why, for some, any contribution from Tevez to City’s success in the final months of the season will always seem unpalatable. They would rather the club had gone it alone, even stumbling in Manchester United’s wake, than welcomed Tevez back. These folk are neutrals, obviously.

Party time: Tevez celebrates after helping City to a vital three points in the race for the title

Those who remember City in tier three of English football, who laughed hollowly through the years when Sir Alex Ferguson referred to their stadium as the Temple of Doom, who have visited Old Trafford when the famous ticker recording City’s years without a trophy was on display, who have endured sneers and mockery, jokes and ridicule, those folk will take the 2011-12 Premier League title any way it comes, and if Tevez is part of the celebrations on the final day, well they’ll live with that, too. There is no rule stating the title can be won only by model professionals — or model citizens for that matter.

This was a huge result for City, have no doubt of it. At a goal down, Mancini would have felt the prize slipping from his grasp. Having once led the league by seven points, he was suddenly looking at a four-point gap trailing Manchester United. It was a dire situation. United could have afforded to go to City in April and lose and, providing they got the right results in other matches, still win the league. City’s destiny would potentially have been out of their hands.

Job well done: Tevez is congratulated by David Platt after City beat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium

It was at this point that Mancini sent for Tevez. Some would say he had no choice, but that is not true, either. He could have chosen stubbornness and resentment. He could have chosen a sly vendetta. He could have reasoned that bringing Tevez close again was a giant gamble and could undermine City’s season.

What if he was petulant What if he acted up What if he scored and made his contempt for his employers known Mancini did not listen to those voices of doubt. He was comfortable in his skin, and in his role as decision maker. He trusted that Tevez’s contrition since his return was genuine. And his faith was rewarded, in victory. It really was the best of all possible worlds; and among the best of all possible title races, too.