Source: Daily_Mail
Carlos Tevez: Sir Alex Ferguson backs Roberto Mancini
Sir Alex Ferguson has backed fierce rival Roberto Mancini over his handling of the Carlos Tevez affair. [LNB]Ferguson's support came on the day Manchester City tried to pull down the shutters on the incident by warning journalists not to ask Mancini about the issue. [LNB]The City manager has insisted Tevez wouldn't play for the club again after refusing to come on as a substitute in the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich earlier this week. [LNB] Stand-off: Roberto Mancini refused to discuss Tevez at his press conference[LNB] Although Ferguson refused to speak directly about the Argentina international, a former player at United, he praised Mancini's stance over the scandal. [LNB]Ferguson told a news conference: 'I think that Roberto Mancini has come out and shown his strength of character, his strength of management and I think that is important.'[LNB]Mancini appeared at his usual Friday press conference this morning but beforehand City's chief communications officer Victoria Kloss read out a statement in which she said the briefing will be suspended if Mancini was asked about Tevez. [LNB] A United force: Fergie (below) has backed Mancini's handling of the Tevez saga [LNB] [LNB] Sir Alex Ferguson [LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Is it time that Manchester City dumped rebel Tevez for good? Carlos Tevez triggered a fresh storm on Tuesday night when he appeared to refuse to come on as a substitute for Manchester City at Bayern Munich. Do you agree with Roberto Mancini that the striker should never pull on the famous blue shirt again?TELL US WHAT YOU THINKKloss said: 'Questions in relation toCarlos Tevez in general, in relation to his alleged conduct on Tuesday evening and the potential ramifications of that conduct and in relation to his future at the football club is strictly off limits and will not be answered. [LNB]'Breaches of this will result in the press conference being suspended. This decision has been made to protectthe interests of all parties and safeguard the integrity of the investigation that is currently taking place.'[LNB] Mancini himself tried played down any side-effects of the drama, rejecting a suggestion that this has beenthe hardest week of his managerial career.[LNB] He said: 'No, no, absolutely no. Why is it difficult? Some situations can happen in football, in your job. It's important that the past is finished. [LNB]'I don't have any complications. Onlyone complication that we had two days ago is that we lost against Bayern Munich, only this. We started very well we can do a fantastic season, I don't have this problem. [LNB] The man in charge: Mancini puts the City squad through their paces on Thursday[LNB] Rallying the troops: Mancini speaks to David Silva and Sergio Aguero [LNB]'It is normal that one player is not happy to leave the pitch in an important game or to stay on the bench, it's a normal situation for every manager.' [LNB]A group of City players who sat next to Tevez will tell investigators they did not hear him refuse to play in the European tie. [LNB]The players - along with Mancini and Tevez - will be interviewed by legal representatives as part of a probe at the club following the astonishing events in the Allianz Arena. [LNB]Tevez has been banned for failing to take the field and accused by Mancini of refusing to play. [LNB]The former captain told Sky Sports after the game that he wasn't in the right frame of mind, but, on Wednesday, insisted he had 'warmed up and was ready to play.' [LNB] Reliant Robin? Man City are interested in Arsenal captain Van Persie [LNB] He claimed there was 'confusion on the bench' and that his position may have been 'misunderstood'. [LNB] Mancini is aware he must avoid a split in his dressing room 24 hours before City play Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League. [LNB] He feels City's attempts to sack Tevez could get messy and distract his squad because Tevez has several friends in the City dressing room. [LNB]The Italian believes Tevez has no future at the club, but wants City to sell his former captain in the transfer window, rather than sacking him if the allegations against him are substantiated. [LNB]Mancini fears the dispute has already wiped ?30million off the player's transfer value to somewhere near the ?20m mark. That would not be enough to replace him with Mancini's main 2012 target, Robin van Persie. [LNB] Manchester City players claim they 'didn't hear' Tevez's refusal to play at Bayern MunichI'd love to work with Tevez again, says Newcastle boss PardewI thought Fergie was messing me about, so I can sympathise with Tevez, claims Scholes Dzeko apologises to Mancini and his City team-mates for his strop at Bayern MunichGo home, and never return: What Mancini told truculent striker Tevez [LNB]
