Source: Team_Talk
Mancini plays down Tevez quit threat
Roberto Mancini is certain Carlos Tevez will not carry through his threat to quit top-level football.[LNB] During the recent international break, Tevez has repeated a previous statement that he is no longer in love with the game and is looking forward with relish to a time when he can return home to Argentina without the pressure of high-profile football.[LNB]Ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Blackpool, Mancini cast doubt on Tevez's desire to abandon the game.[LNB]"I haven't spoken to him about this," he said.[LNB]"Carlos is born to play football. I don't know if he will continue to play here for 10 years or whether he goes back to Argentina but he will play football."[LNB]Tiredness could be part of the problem.[LNB]In addition to 10 games for his club already this term, Tevez has undertaken two long trips for the international cause, including one to Japan during the most recent break.[LNB]Mancini can sense it is taking its toll and will therefore ask the Argentina FA to leave the 26-year-old out of the high-profile friendly with Brazil next month.[LNB]"Argentina have a friendly but I hope in November he can stay here," said Mancini.[LNB]"Carlos didn't work from the start of the season. He arrived here in August. After three days he went away with the national team.[LNB]"But he still needed to recover after the World Cup.[LNB]"The tiredness is a problem for Carlos. Argentina do not just play in Europe, so it is very difficult."[LNB]Mancini cites that extreme tiredness as the reason for Tevez's explosion at half-time in the Newcastle encounter when, frustrated at City's poor performance, the South American gave vent to his feelings.[LNB]His manager responded, in a manner that initially led Tevez to believe he was being hauled off.[LNB]Mancini insists the drama has been somewhat overplayed.[LNB]"I played football," he said. "I understand when you are tired maybe sometimes you can say things you don't want to say. This is normal."[LNB]Mancini will have a chat with Tevez before deciding whether to include his captain for the clash with Blackpool, which he likened to "a trip to Rimini" yesterday.[LNB]He has already had a chat with Nigel de Jong, who has been in the news for the tackle that left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg, which triggered Holland boss Bert van Marwijk's decision to axe him from the Oranje squad.[LNB]"Nigel must pay attention in the next two or three games because some referees may see him differently," said Mancini.[LNB]"But the reaction was out of order.[LNB]"Every week, in every game, here, in Spain, in Italy, there are unbelievable fouls. This was just a normal tackle."[LNB]
