Source: Telegraph
Lionel Messi best but Carlos Tevez close behind, says Manchester City manager
Tevez, set to face former club Manchester United in Saturday's derby at Eastlands on Saturday, claimed earlier this week that he was unimpressed by Mancini's double-session training regime at Manchester City. [LNB]Mancini and senior figures at City view Tevez's comments as nothing more than loyalty to former manager Mark Hughes, who lured the player from Old Trafford last summer. [LNB] Related ArticlesWayne Rooney wants to face Man CityBerbatov's Manchester United future in doubtT?z urged to hold tongue'Title will be won on the pitch, not in the mind'United need Chelsea slip-upSport on televisionAnd with 28-goal Tevez inspiring City's push for Champions League qualification, Mancini insists that the striker has now proved his calibre as one of the world's top players. [LNB]Mancini said: 'Carlos is already an important player for us, but he could improve over the next year. [LNB]'He has already improved this year, because he has never scored 28 goals before. I am happy about that. [LNB]'When you pick the top players, you pick (Wayne) Rooney, Messi and Tevez. Messi is the best at the moment, but Carlos and Rooney are very, very close." [LNB]City can all but end United's faltering title bid and inch closer to securing a top four finish by beating Sir Alex Ferguson's men on Saturday lunchtime. [LNB]But despite the prospect of ending United's season, Mancini insists that City are only focused on their own objectives. [LNB]He said: "It is important that we only want to win for us. We have our own target, and it is not important that we win to stop United winning the title. [LNB]'It is better to focus on ourselves and not other things. [LNB]"It will be a difficult game for both teams, but it is important that we continue to play as we have done for the last month. [LNB]"It is always a difficult game against United, and if we win it 1-0 that will be fine by me. I am not sure Sir Alex will agree. [LNB]"This derby is bigger than normal. It is different to those in the past, as it is so close to the finish of the season with us playing for fourth place and United going for first position. [LNB]"It will be different but I think it will be a good game." [LNB]Buy Manchester United tickets or Manchester City tickets from Telegraph Sports Tickets [LNB]
