• Premier League

Mancini likens Tevez to Maradona

Carlos Tevez scored a contender for goal of the season for Manchester City against Wolves © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Manchester City won't feel UEFA axe - Scudamore
  
• News: Tevez finally settled at City
  
• News: Hart happy to wait for new City contract
  
ESPNsoccernet home

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has likened Carlos Tevez to Diego Maradona following his brilliant two-goal salvo in the 4-3 Premier League win over Wolves.

With Mario Balotelli injured and Edin Dzeko ineligible, Mancini may be forced to rely on skipper Tevez for Tuesday's FA Cup third round replay against Leicester. The Argentine would enter the match in sparkling form after he moved level with Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the Premier League scoring charts on Saturday.

The 14-goal striker is clearly a player of huge influence at City, so much so that he has earned a comparison with the legendary Maradona from his manager.

"At this moment, Carlos is the best player in the Premier League at scoring special goals,'' Mancini said. "His first against Wolves was fantastic. Only a top player can score a goal like that, Carlos... me! Seriously, it was the kind of goal Diego Maradona used to score.''

Mancini defended his decision to restrict Shay Given's appearances for City this season. Twelve months ago the Republic of Ireland star was firmly established as City's No. 1, but now Given is at a crossroads in his career. Shunted down to second choice due to Joe Hart's impressive form, the former Newcastle man is keen to leave City and reignite his career. Yet Mancini has warned Given it is not certain such a move will be granted.

"It is not a simple position,'' he said. "You can change the other players every game but the goalkeeper is different. That is the only reason why Shay has not played so often because he is a fantastic goalkeeper.''

The City boss still remembers how he ended up needing to sign Marton Fulop as an emergency at the end of last season when Given was injured and an attempt to get Hart out of his loan spell at Birmingham failed. With the stakes even higher this time around, Mancini is not willing to risk leaving himself so badly exposed again.

Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira is in a very similar situation, having started just two Premier League games all season but eight in cup competitions. And he is one of a number of fringe players Mancini is preparing to introduce as City look to confirm a fourth-round trip to Notts County.

"Patrick Vieira is an important member of our squad,'' Mancini said. "He is a good player, who has lots of experience. He will probably play, along with Jerome Boateng, James Milner, David Silva, Jo and Joleon Lescott. We have other players that we can win this game.''

"I don't like this replay because we have a lot of matches to play until the end of the season already,'' Mancini said. "But we want to win because we want to get to Wembley. For me, that is very important.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.