• Premier League

Players 'don't back' Mancini's version of Tevez events

ESPN staff
September 30, 2011
Carlos Tevez looks on from the bench © PA Photos
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Manchester City are unlikely to be able to sack striker Carlos Tevez, as it is being claimed that no other player is willing to back up Roberto Mancini's assertion that their colleague declined to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich.

Tevez outraged Mancini with his apparent refusal to come on as a second half substitute in the Champions League defeat in Germany on Tuesday, with the Italian subsequently proclaiming that Tevez - who earns around £250,000-a-week - will never play for the club again if he has his way. The club's owners subsequently appeared to offer their full support to their manager, as they immediately meted out a fine of two weeks' wages.

Tevez is also suspended from the club for the same period, pending a full internal investigation, which prohibits him from even attending the training ground. But the prospect of the club going on to sack the Argentine now seems remote, as The Times is claiming no player is willing to back-up Mancini's assertions that Tevez outright defied his manager.

So far two senior coaches have verified the Italian manager's version of events, but no player has been able, or willing, to offer the same confirmation. Tevez was flanked by James Milner and Alexander Kolarov on the bench at the Allianz Arena at the time of his altercation with coaches, while Pablo Zabaleta, reserve goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon and the recently-substituted Edin Dzeko were also watching the action from the sidelines.

Samir Nasri and Gareth Barry later replaced Milner and Kolarov, after the latter duo were brought on as substitutes.

All those players will be interviewed for their version of events over the next few days, while they are under strict orders not to speak to the media about the incident until the investigation is completed. But it is believed that none will feel in a position to give evidence against their fellow player.

Indeed, Tevez is the only person other than Mancini to have suggested he refused to play, as he told Sky Sports straight after the game, "I didn't feel right to play, so I didn't."

However, the player later claimed he had been "misunderstood".

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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