Soccer:Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has denied refusing to play against Bayern Munich in last night's Champions League match in a statement released to Press Association Sport. Tevez angered manager Roberto Mancini when he appeared to refuse to leave the substitutes' bench and take the field during the second-half with City trailing 2-0.
Mancini later claimed the Argentinian would never play for him at City again before saying he would consult the club’s owner about the way forward. But Tevez this morning claimed he did not refuse to play and also said he was ready to fulfil his obligations to the club.
Tevez said in his statement “I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich. They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club.
“In Munich on Tuesday I had warmed up and was ready to play. This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play. There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood. Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations.”
Meanwhile Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg believes Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is right to throw Carlos Tevez out of his squad for refusing to come on as a substitute in last night’s Champions League match at the Allianz Arena.
Effenberg, who captained Bayern to their last Champions League triumph in 2001, said the Argentina forward’s behaviour was unacceptable and that he, like Mancini, would never consider the player again. “That player would never play in the same club as me again; that goes without saying,” he told Germany’s Sky television, for whom he now works as a pundit.
“There is a clear order from the coach and he disregards it. That is poor behaviour and the club has got to come down hard on it.” According to Effenberg, Tevez will also now have problems finding another employer who would still be keen on him after the incident in last night’s 2-0 loss to Bayern.
“Other clubs are going to have to consider whether they want to sign a player with such a character. You just don’t do something like that. It is disrespectful to your team-mates and is not just in spite of the coach, but in spite of the whole team. I hope that they actually go through with what Mancini says and that he never plays for the club again.”
The incident formed part of a disappointing night for City in Munich as they lost 2-0. Tevez’s actions also drew a scathing response from British television pundits, with former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness reacting furiously. “He (Tevez) is one bad apple,” the Scot told Sky Sports.
“He can undo all the good work that has been done (at City). He’s a disgrace to football. He epitomises what most people think is wrong with modern football. It is totally unacceptable. He’s a football player and he is paid to play. He is refusing to help his team-mates. It’s all about him, him, him.”
Souness also suggested the 27-year-old’s attitude may have contributed to his exit from Manchester United, where he played prior to his Eastlands switch. Why didn’t Fergie take him? Fergie (Alex Ferguson) is the oldest fox in the business and he must have seen something he didn’t like in him.”
Mancini is now keen to see the back of Tevez once and for all and Souness believes that is the right move for City, who he thinks could risk losing their manager if they fail to agree. “He (Mancini) walked into a hornet’s nest with him (Tevez) and several other players who were at the club at the time.
“That would cause you to walk away from the job. How can you deal with players acting like that?” Mark Hughes was City manager when Tevez moved to Eastlands and believes the player’s personal situation is at the root of the issue. “The problem with Carlos is he missed his family.
“That’s why he said if it was possible he wanted to leave the club, he had this situation with his family. There is obviously no relationship whatsoever, or you would imagine given the events of this evening, with the manager. That needs to be mended and if it can’t then something else has to happen.”
Former United striker Dwight Yorke also believes Mancini has some work on his hands resolving an awkward situation with a player who is lavishly paid at City and would be affordable to only a small number of top clubs. “I don’t condone what he’s done, in terms of refusing to go on the pitch.
No-one likes to see that. We don’t know the ins and outs but they need to sort that out. You don’t need that around the place. The manager has got some work to do and he alone can make those decisions.”
