Source: Telegraph
Manchester City v Manchester United: Carlos Tévez and Dimitar Berbatov head-to-head
Ewood Park, April 2008. Manchester United are narrowly ahead of Chelsea in the race for the title. A dogged performance by Blackburn sees them 1-0 up with minutes remaining in the fixture. United will stay top if they lose but the momentum is threatening to desert them. [LNB]Up pops Carlos Tévez to snatch a point and leave United three points clear with a vastly better goal difference. United go on to win the title, again. [LNB] Related ArticlesFans to show true coloursUnited keep their eye on James MilnerPolice set wide alcohol-free zoneMan City v Man United: previewOld Trafford may host 2010-11 play-off finalsMancini desperate to avoid touchline banFast forward almost exactly two years and United once more find themselves in Blackburn desperately needing points more desperately in fact to maintain a challenge with Chelsea for the title. Wayne Rooney is injured so United turn to £30m striker Dimitar Berbatov for inspiration. [LNB]None is found. United draw. The title is Chelsea's to lose. [LNB]The contrast is one that for many is emblematic of the difference between these two multi-million pound strikers. One that United have persisted with despite his failure to light up Old Trafford. One who was allowed to leave last summer despite being a darling of the crowd. [LNB]Tévez is a tightly wound ball of energy and endeavour a trait much admired in England. Berbatov is technically more skilful but carries the burden on his slouched, languid shoulders of a perceived lack of effort, resolve and application to make his talent felt. [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson did not believe Tévez would be missed after he defected to Manchester City. But how he would love to have him for this weekend's derby fixture should Rooney miss out. [LNB]In recent weeks Berbatov has had the opportunity to make those critical of him eat their words. But, against first Chelsea and then Blackburn he delivered little. Perhaps Ferguson did make a rare mistake after all. [LNB]Tévez has been a revelation at City. Leading the line with verve and brio. Energised by a regular starting place he has scored 22 goals in 30 league appearances in a blue shirt compared to Berbatov's 12 in one game less in red. [LNB]Tévez's recent hat-trick against Wigan turned a frustrating night in to one of glory for City who are now odds on favourites to claim fourth spot and a Champions League place off the back of his goals. [LNB]But perhaps Berbatov loses something in perception. Tévez is a workaholic, Berbatov is lazy, so the conventional wisdom goes, though a return of 12 goals from 29 matches looks better when considered that he is often a subsitute or subsituted - however, Tevez's goals per minute on the pitch remains superior to Berbatov's. [LNB]Tévez's main gripe with Ferguson as their parting became acrimonious was that he wasn't playing enough. It is just as rare for Berbatov to play a full 90 minutes for United as Ferguson appears to have lost faith in him. [LNB]The truth of the matter is that United have missed Tévez. Or, more specifically have missed him this month. Not because of his superiority to Berbatov over the course of the campaign. Not because they were underemploying him last season and how he has proved that to have been an error. [LNB]But, rather, because Tévez is a like-for-like replacement for Rooney. United have come to rely on the England striker this season, as any side would in the form he is in, and play with him up top on his own. [LNB]As injury truncated Rooney's season at the worst possible moment, Tévez would have fitted in to the system and pace of United's game plan perfectly. The £25m needed to sign Tévez would have been a lot to pay for a substitute who would have been unhappy playing first understudy to Rooney - but just now it looks like better value than the money shelled out on the man currently filling that role. [LNB][LNB]Carlos TevezDimitar BerbatovAppearances 30 29 Minutes on the pitch 2,493 1,857 In front of goalGoals 22 12 Minutes per goal 113 155 Shots on target 53 33 Shots off target 40 35 Shooting accuracy 57 per cent 49 per cent Chance conversion 24 per cent 18 per cent PassingGoal assists 7 4 Chances created 48 47 Total passes 957 841 Completion rate 82 per cent 78 per cent DribblingDribbles and runs 86 42 Dribble completion rate 44 per cent 62 per cent Buy Manchester United tickets or Manchester City tickets from Telegraph Sports Tickets [LNB]
