Carlos Tevez to start FA Cup Final for Manchester City

14 May 2011 10:58
ShareManchester City manager Roberto Mancini is considering one of the biggest gambles of his managerial career by pitching captain Carlos Tevez into the FA Cup final.[LNB]Tevez has played only 10 minutes of football since tearing his hamstring in a defeat at Liverpool a month ago, coming on as a late substitute in Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League win over  Tottenham at Eastlands.[LNB]Mancini will not decide on his team until speaking to Tevez this morning but it is understood he had the Argentine in the provisional Wembley XI he drafted at the club's Hertfordshire.[LNB] Gamble: Carlos Tevez (centre) trained ahead of the FA Cup Final[LNB]Tevez is desperate to play and was telling people he was fit a week ago. Starting him against Stoke, though, would still be a huge call by Mancini given that his star player and talisman has not had any real football under his belt for so long.[LNB]Tevez trained with the rest of the City squad at their Carrington base on Friday morning before they travelled to London in the afternoon.[LNB]Fellow forward David Silva missed part of the session but is understood to be fit.[LNB][LNB] Waiting game: Tevez (second right) joined the rest of the City swuad on their way to London[LNB]If Tevez does play then it will in all likelihood mean Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli will miss out. [LNB]Dzeko's form remains uncertain and hewas poor against Tottenham, while Balotelli upset Mancini with his performance as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Everton last Saturday.[LNB]Stoke have injury concerns of their own. Robert Huth (knee) and Matthew Etherington (hamstring) are due to have fitness tests.[LNB]Huth is having sugar injections after coming off during Sunday's victory over Arsenal.[LNB] Comeback: Tevez (right) made his return against Tottenham in midweek[LNB]GoalkeeperThomas Sorensen, a regular in cup games, is expected to retain his place but Ricardo Fuller, Danny Higginbotham and Mamady Sidibe are ruledout through injury.[LNB]Meanwhile, Mancini believes players such as Tevez should only stay at the club if they 'believe in the project.'[LNB]Tevez's future has been in doubt eversince he handed in a transfer request last December, a request which helater withdrew. And although Mancini admits the Argentinian is an important player, he feels it is important players are happy at Eastlands as City look to next season's Champions League.[LNB]'He's got a five-year contract but I always say that a player should stay here because he believes in the project and he's happy to stay at the club,' Mancini said. 'But if I'm not happy to stay at City I will leave. It's the same for the players.[LNB] Nothing to say? Tevez (left) and Gareth Barry wait at the train station[LNB] 'If they aren't happy to stay at the club it's better they leave. But this is not just for Carlos, it's for the players in general.[LNB]'When you start your job you should be happy because the season is long and there could be a thousand problems.[LNB]'I never said that Carlos wants to leave. I said it would be his decision. He has scored 22 goals and that's very important.[LNB]'We always say he's an important player for us. But we've got this far because all the players have contributed."[LNB] He was a nine-year-old rebel but now Vincent is the ideal Kompany manThe underdog can bite us! Don't get rolled over like Arsenal, warns City boss ManciniI took on Keane, now for Mancini! Walters ready to fire Stoke to glory at WembleyWembley digest: What you can expect from the FA Cup Final as Stoke take on Manchester City [LNB]  Explore more:People: Matthew Etherington, Edin Dzeko, Danny Higginbotham, Carlos Tevez, Robert Huth, Roberto Mancini, David Silva, Thomas Sorensen, Mario Balotelli Places: Liverpool, London

Source: Daily_Mail