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Mancini admits 'heated confrontation' with Tevez

Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tevez have settled their differences © Getty Images

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Roberto Mancini has admitted that he had a "heated confrontation" with Carlos Tevez during Manchester City's win over Newcastle, but he insists that reports of the incident have been exaggerated.

The City boss clashed with his star striker at half-time of the game at Eastlands - when the scores were locked at 1-1 - after Tevez reportedly accused him of being too cautious.

City went on to triumph thanks to an Adam Johnson goal - taking them into second in the table - and Mancini is adamant that the result is all that matters.

"My encounter with Tevez? There has been a lot of nonsense written," Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "These things happen in our locker room as much as they do in any other. It is necessary and it is good when it happens.

"It was a heated confrontation but after that City won, so the wake-up call worked. Before returning to the field we had cleared it all up."

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli is set to return to first-team action for City's clash with title-chasing Arsenal on October 24. The Italian striker, signed for in excess of £20 million in the summer, has not played since picking up an injury on his goalscoring debut in the Europa League.

"It's time for him to return, and quickly," added the City coach. "He's recovering well and I hope to have him back for the game against Arsenal.

"Has it been a long recovery? No, it has been normal. It depends on the player, sometimes people come back early and sometimes later. I hope Mario is early.

"He had tests on his knee on Friday and again on Monday. It should be OK."

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