• Champions League

Mancini appears to soften over Tevez saga

Roberto Mancini risked the wrath of another one of his players when he substituted Adam Johnson before half-time © PA Photos

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Roberto Mancini hinted he could be ready to open the door for a return to action for Carlos Tevez following Manchester City's 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Tuesday.

City had to come from behind at the Etihad Stadium to earn their first Champions League win of the season, following Cani's third-minute opener. An own goal from Carlos Marchena and then a Sergio Aguero strike in injury-time breathed new life into City's faltering European campaign.

Wednesday brings the disciplinary hearing of Tevez, who allegedly refused to come on as a substitute during an earlier clash with Bayern Munich. Mancini said immediately after that incident that Tevez would not play for him again, but his position may just have changed.

Asked if his stance had softened, Mancini replied on Sky Sports: "I'm soft because I'm a good man and I can't understand everything but I would prefer not to speak about this situation."

Mancini exploded with joy when Aguero netted the winner against Villarreal, earning a victory that leaves City one point behind second-place Napoli in Group A. However, the Italian explained that his team must do better.

"I told you before the game it was important only to win this game and we won," Mancini said. "I think we deserved to win because we had a lot of chances to score but Villarreal on the counter-attack were very dangerous because they play football very well.

"I think it was an important goal - an important goal because now I think that everything is re-opened, also for the first place [in the group].

"When you are playing in the Champions League for the first time, you need to improve game after game. You need to win and I think that tonight, after this game, we can do better."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.