Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini pleads with fans to back controversial Carlos Tevez
Roberto Mancini has urged Manchester Cityfans not to derail the club's attempts to go topof the Barclays Premier League by ventingtheir anger at Carlos Tevez on Monday night. [LNB]Tevez is expected to be replaced by Kolo Toureas skipper at Eastlands - a match that has been given the go-ahead despite the freezing weather - as City try to takeadvantage of a weekend of postponements bybeating Everton and spending Christmas asleaders for the first time since 1929. [LNB] Ready for backlash: Carlos Tevez could receive a frosty reception from Man City fans[LNB] How they line-up... [LNB]ManchesterCity (4-3-2-1): Hart;Zabaleta, K Toure, Kompany,Boateng; Y Toure, De Jong, Barry;Balotelli, Silva; Tevez. [LNB]Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Neville,Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman,Fellaini, Cahill, Rodwell, Osman; Saha.[LNB]Referee: Peter Walton.TV: [LNB]Mancini wants the fuss about the26-year-old's future put toone side and said last night:'The fans should continue tosupport a team like theyhave in other times.[LNB]'It'simportant that we arefocused on Everton and thesupporters are focused onEverton. We should forgetthis situation.' [LNB]Mancini spoke to Argentinaforward Tevez, 26, at theclub's training ground lastFriday but it is understoodthe meeting lasted only 10minutes and Tevez has nointention of withdrawinghis transfer request. [LNB]Tonight's game will bewatched by City chairmanKhaldoon Al Mubarak, whoarrived in Manchester lastnight. He has no plan tomeet Tevez but it is possiblehe may decide to takematters in to his own hands. [LNB]City lost twice to Evertonlast season and Mancinidesperately wants a win onthe day that marks his firstanniversary at Eastlands. [LNB]'We can play very well andstrong like we did in the lastgame against West Ham,'added Mancini.[LNB]'We can only beat them ifwe play like this. Carlos willbe OK. He is a footballplayer. He loves football andhe plays like when we wereyoung and in the garden.It's the same in training orin a match.' [LNB] Let's move forward: Manchester City's boss Roberto Mancini has urged calm at Eastlands[LNB]Manchester City defender Micah Richards has regained his focus and form during manager Roberto Mancini's first year in charge.[LNB]And he feels there would be no better way to celebrate that anniversary than with a home victory against Everton tonight.[LNB]That result would see City go top of the table, a measure of their progress under Mancini, who replaced Mark Hughes in the run-up to Christmas.[LNB]They are on course for a place in the Champions League, having already secured a spot of the Europa League's round of 32 with Aris Salonika their next opponents.[LNB]Richards, who skippered the side in the draw with Juventus in midweek, said: 'I enjoy playing football but it went a bit sour under Mark Hughes. Not because of him, I only blame myself for that.[LNB]'Roberto Mancini has given me a lot of confidence. I'm back in the England team and hopefully I can continue to play well. I was chuffed to be captain against Juventus - I was honoured that he chose me.'[LNB]Richards claims City have reasons to be cheerful going into the second half of the season with Mancini.[LNB] Praise: Micah Richards is happy with the progress Manchester City are making[LNB]'We always said, give him time and he would produce the goods. He's come in last year, changed the club around and he's done ever so well. We are getting good results.[LNB]'He's happy, the players are happy and we're just looking forward to the future. We're all excited about what we can achieve together.'[LNB]Even though Everton are struggling to win games, Richards expects a stiff test of the team's credentials.[LNB]He said: 'They are down the league but when they come to us, they always seem to do well and win. I think it was this time last year, they started putting points on the board.[LNB]'So we've just got to be careful, don't get too excited and just go into the game 100% focused. Hopefully if we do that, we can get the three points.[LNB]'It will be nice to concentrate on the league now. Sometimes it's hard playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday but that schedule is out of the way for the time being.'[LNB] Top of the tree? If City beat Everton on Monday night, they'll lead at Christmas Premier League facing up to fixture chaos as seven matches are postponed Wantaway City captain Tevez begs United boss Fergie to take him back [LNB] Explore more:People: Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Mark Hughes Places: Manchester, United Kingdom
