Time for City to prove they are bigger than Tevez

Even with only half an hour remaining in a raucous Allianz Arena and his expensively-assembled team trailing by two goals, having been comprehensively outplayed by an impressive Bayern Munich side, Roberto Mancini still felt entitled to believe all was not yet lost.

After all, he still had a considerable ace up his sleeve: last season's top scorer, captain and talisman, the man who despite all his off-the-field issues and questionable temperament had dragged his team-mates out of a hole numerous times in the past, was sitting on the bench ready to try and rescue them again.

But Carlos Tevez had other ideas. Still seething at his club's refusal to allow him a 'dream' return to former club Corinthians in the summer, his pride insulted with the withdrawal of the club captaincy and relegation to mere squad status, he refused to answer his manager's call.

In a single moment, all the good work the Argentine had done since arriving at Eastlands in the summer of 2009, helping transform City from Premier League afterthoughts to Champions League qualifiers and bringing major silverware back after a 35 year absence, was undone.

He had abandoned his team in their hour of need. With a roll of the eyes and shrug of the shoulders, City's hero became their pariah.

After the match, Mancini was unequivocal in asserting that Tevez's career at the club is over. The pair have clashed many times before, but never like this.

"He has wanted to leave for the last two years," the furious Italian told reporters. "For two years I have helped him, and now he has refused to play.

"This can never happen at a top club that one player can refuse to help his team-mates in an important match like tonight.

"Do you think at Bayern Munich a player would ever behave like this? At Milan? At Manchester United? No. That is the answer. It is the same for everyone.

"If I have my way he will be out. He's finished with me."

Mancini conceded the final decision over Tevez's future is not his to make, but City's owners must back their manager when deciding how to handle the affair in the coming days.

To do any less would be to make his position almost untenable, and the Italian's departure at this crucial stage would destroy the team's promising development so far this term.

But there is also the more fundamental point that Mancini is right. A club with aspirations to join Europe's top table cannot, under any circumstances, tolerate behaviour which undermines the authority of the manager and, even more importantly, inhibits the team.

The baggage which inevitably comes with Tevez means he was only a worthwhile investment for City whilst he maintained the professionalism on the pitch for which he has always been known and respected. Last night in Munich he betrayed the only part of his character which ever did him credit.

Moreover, City are fast approaching the stage where they no longer need their troubled but talented striker. Tevez may have considered himself bigger than the Manchester City he signed for in 2009, but he is most certainly not bigger than the club with whom he last night burned his bridges.

City now possess the infrastructure and playing talent to establish themselves for years to come as one of the dominant forces in the Premier League and, despite their hitherto inauspicious debut, the Champions League too. They possess these things with or without Tevez.

In fact, the Argentine has now revealed himself to be the biggest obstacle to City achieving their long-term goals. His unprofessionalism and selfish attitude have created a poisonous atmosphere around Eastlands which could seriously undermine the team's efforts if he is allowed to remain.

Therefore, the time is right for City to discard him. If he truly did refuse to play on Tuesday then he is in breach of contract, in which case the club should be able to dismiss him without paying compensation and, should they choose, even battle him in the courts for damages.

The main argument against releasing Tevez from his contract is that making him a free agent would simply mean giving him what he's wanted all along - an easy route out of Manchester.

But City's concern at this juncture should not be the petty desire to take their revenge on a player who has caused them a great humiliation, intentional or not, on the very biggest of stages.

For what would it achieve to make Tevez rot in the reserves until January or longer?

It would ensure only that the issue rumbles on, distracting the club from the more important business of winning matches and unfairly deflecting attention from their achievements.

The biggest clubs do not allow individual players either to hold them to ransom or become an embarassing sideshow. Tevez is guilty on both counts.

If City wish to be considered among Europe's finest, they will dump him and move on to bigger and better things.

FA Cup win the perfect tonic for Mancini

Roberto Mancini celebrates his side's FA Cup win on Wembley pitch

Roberto Mancini may have been a little optimistic when he said he hoped his players would not drink excessively in celebration of their FA Cup final win on Saturday, but the Manchester City boss was shrewd enough to acknowledge that victory at Wembley provided the perfect tonic for him personally after a testing season.

The Italian greeted the final whistle with a beaming smile as he basked in the glory of ending the blue half of Manchester’s 35 year wait for silverware. Reflecting on the most successful season in his club’s recent history, the joy on his face was clear for all to see.

Well, joy, and just a hint of relief.

Relief because although they rarely threatened, Saturday’s opponents Stoke had defended stubbornly as heavy underdogs for over 70 minutes in the face of a powerful, assertive and yet occasionally plodding City performance.

Relief also because Mancini knows cup success can be a powerful springboard for a team chasing greater glories – just as League Cup triumph was for Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2005, or how victory in the same competition a year later eventually proved for a young Manchester United side containing Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

After all, as far as trophies are concerned, it never pours without raining a bit first.

But perhaps most of all, relief because Mancini knows just how important Saturday’s FA Cup victory will be in stabilising his position at Eastlands, and how steep may have been the price of defeat.

It seems strange to say in the wake of City securing qualification for the Champions league for the first time in the club’s history but, for much of the season, the common reaction to the club’s domestic performance has been decidedly muted.

At times the displays conjured by Roberto Mancini’s men have left the clear impression of a team coasting towards their destination with the handbrake on, rather than putting pedal to the metal and forcing the issue in a season where Manchester United will finish with the lowest points total of any Premier League champions for ten years.

The City manager himself has often come across as content to fulfil his employers’ minimum requirement of fourth place in the table, in a year when even the best team in the country have seemed vulnerable to anyone brave and capable enough to challenge them. A lack of quality is regrettable, a lack of ambition unforgivable.

Pragmatism in the dugout has inevitably been transmitted onto the pitch, and as a result although City have often convinced they have rarely thrilled en route to Europe’s top table this season – although the situation has hardly been helped by the likes of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, who have thus far done little to justify the lavish expenditure required to bring them to Eastlands.

Dzeko and Balotelli have yet to repay the combined £52m it cost City to sign them

Starved for so long of any meaningful success, City’s loyal fans have been willing to accept functionality over fantasy, even on a Hollywood budget, as long as it yields results. The club’s owners, too, have been willing to acquiesce as long as Mancini delivers on his promises.

But in testing their resolve, Mancini was playing a dangerous game.

Fail to finish in the top four – seemingly a very real possibility immediately after a comprehensive defeat inflicted by Liverpool at Anfield back in April, prior to Tottenham’s dramatic decline – and the Italian undoubtedly would have lost his job.

Lose to Stoke in the FA Cup Final and, while Mancini’s time may not have been up in Manchester, serious questions would have been asked, if not of the ‘City project’ then certainly of the manager’s compatibility with it, and the club’s league performance may well have become the subject of greater internal scrutiny.

But instead it is Mancini who is the winner. He will always be the man credited with ending City’s epic trophy drought, and his bond with the fans has been strengthened accordingly.

Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, who must have been privately willing Mancini to justify the board’s decision to ruthlessly dispatch Mark Hughes in favour of the former Inter Milan boss, now has all the ammunition he needs to rebuff the club’s detractors.

There is no doubt that bigger challenges lie ahead for Mancini. He has a summer to mould a squad capable of maintaining a Premier League title challenge and Champions League campaign, all the while playing the sort of expansive style which will see off any remaining reservations over his suitability.

It will be a tough task. But with the time and faith a trophy has earned him, the City manager has given himself every chance.

Title contenders' failings hint at close finish

It all appeared to be getting so predictable in the Premier League title race. The ruthless and clinical nature of Chelsea's beginning of the defence of their domestic crown was in stark contrast to the early season inconsistency of their rivals, and left even Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini feeling confident enough to predict that the Blues would 'easily' reassert their supremacy this term. Several days and a defeat at Eastlands later, talk of the West Londoners' aura of invincibility has been ripped from the back pages, to be replaced with speculation regarding the ability of Manchester's 'other club' to become the dominant force in English football. But if there is one thing that last weekend's Premier League results have made clear, it is this: Mancini's claim is almost certainly a fallacy. All of the major title contenders exhibited significant weaknesses in their respective matches, and all are certainly beatable. This year's title race will not be won at a canter.

Manchester City

The new kings of English football? Not quite yet, but they do now at least feature in the discussion. Having put a halt to the Chelsea juggernaut on Saturday, Manchester City will undoubtedly be the happiest of the Premier League contenders. City fans will quite rightly consider their team's excellent recent record against the champions as proof that, thanks to some hefty investment, they now boast a side which can compete and win at the highest level. The nature of the win, however, prompted as many long-term questions as it provided short-term answers. First and foremost, whilst the safety-first setup of Mancini's side got the job done against the champions, there are already some indications, notably in the Citizens' home draw with Blackburn and away defeat to Sunderland, that the Italian's pragmatism may be misguided against the less well-resourced and ambitious sides of the Premier League. His favoured 4-2-3-1 places great reliance on new City captain Carlos Tevez, and whilst the diminutive Argentine has a phenomenal recent scoring record of 24 goals in his last 29 games, it is difficult to see where the goals are coming from on a rare occasion that he doesn't deliver. Of course, if his side do need a goal, Mancini does have reserves of formidable quality in Emmanuel Adebayor, Mario Balotelli and Roque Santa Cruz. But these big names and bigger reputations are not likely to be content with a role as impact substitutes, and an unhappy dressing room is rarely conducive to success on the pitch.

Chelsea

Prior to their defeat at Eastlands, Chelsea's spectacular start to the season had been the subject of a torrent of hyperbole from the media, with a few overly-eager souls even suggesting that the Blues might emulate Arsenal's 'Invincibles' of the 2003/4 season and go the entire league season unbeaten. In such an atmosphere, it would be easy for even a top side to become caught up in the hype. Consequently, a week consisting of a shock exit from the Carling Cup and a defeat at the hands of the 'new power' in English football may prove to be just the antidote for dangerous notions such as a quadruple trophy haul. And thanks to the failings of the chasing pack, the reality check has only cost a point. Chelsea will justifiably be disappointed with defeat in Manchester, but they still boast a points tally and goal difference that is the envy of the Premier League, and will rightly be confident in their own ability to maintain their position at the top of the pile. But the recent setbacks have also exposed a worrying lack of depth in the Chelsea squad. The creativity of the injured Frank Lampard was badly missed against Manchester City, and the introduction of Daniel Sturridge for Didier Drogba at Eastlands didn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of the home defenders. The Blues bench appears to consist of youthful promise rather than trusted experience, and consequently there are doubts over Carlo Ancelotti's ability to change a game if it isn't going the way of his side. Such limitations could prove particularly costly against top level opposition, and the next big test is Arsenal on Sunday.

Manchester United

Last weekend's Premier League action has left Sir Alex Ferguson with much to ponder. Six games into the new season and his are the only side in the division still unbeaten, but are three points behind leaders Chelsea after their third consecutive draw away from home. Conceding soft goals has become a recurring motif in the story of United's travels this term, with the Red Devils' defence undoubtedly suffering as a result of Rio Ferdinand's persistent injury problems. This new-found defensive frailty has resulted in extremely uncharacteristic collapses from winning positions against Fulham and Everton, as well as a laboured draw against Bolton last Sunday, and correcting these errors will surely be at the forefront of Sir Alex's thoughts. But as several below-par performances this season have already shown, United's problems are not limited merely to their defence. Much has been made of the early season form of the seemingly evergreen Paul Scholes, but at 36, he will not be able to maintain such good form over the course of an entire campaign, and will have to be used sparingly for maximum effect. In his absence, United look worryingly short of creativity and vision in the centre of midfield - something which could prove particularly costly against defensive minded teams. In attack, it appears - in one of the most surprising turn of events this season - that United are currently over-reliant on the brilliance of Dimitar Berbatov. Wayne Rooney's post World Cup/post injury hangover has been enhanced by tabloid revelations concerning his private life, and it is likely to be some time before he is back to his all-conquering best. In the meantime, Ferguson will hope that these problems do not cost him any more points in his pursuit of Chelsea and a 19th Premier League title.

Arsenal

Oh dear. Things had started so well for Arsenal this season. After beginning their campaign with a solid point at Anfield, and with the imperious Cesc Fabregas and unflappable Jack Wilshere pulling the strings, the Gunners hit a bewildered Blackpool for six, put four past Bolton and even managed an 'ugly' win away at Blackburn, encouraging some to suggest that this might finally be the year that Arsene Wenger's crowd-pleasing side started collecting trophies as well as admirers. But in the past couple of weeks, the old failings have begun to emerge. Away against Sunderland, Arsenal took the lead but, like so many times before, failed to put their determined hosts to the sword, and Darren Bent's injury time penalty ensured that the Gunners were duly punished for their profligacy. Against West Brom last weekend, the arguments against Arsenal's title credentials were there for all to see. A below-par performance was exacerbated by a complete lack of leadership in the face of adversity (although Samir Nasri tried his best) and uncommitted defending, not to mention some truly awful goalkeeping. Arsenal lack a top class shot-stopper, a defensive organiser, a midfield enforcer and a world-class striker. It is no coincidence that the two best teams in the country, Chelsea and Manchester United, can both supply ticks next to all of the positions described above. Arsenal cannot hope to compete with them on a consistent basis without such additions. The clash with Chelsea this Sunday is now crucial. Another defeat would be a significant - if not quite fatal - blow to the Gunner's title hopes.

With a hard-fought victory at Eastlands, Manchester City have given the lie to manager Roberto Mancini's claims that Chelsea will 'easily' retain their Premier League crown. On a weekend of surprises, the performances of each of the title contenders have raised questions about their credentials, and none of them will have much room for error if they are to succeed in their quest for glory. 


NOTE: Liverpool and Tottenham have not been given coverage in this post as I do not consider them to have a realistic chance of winning the title. Especially Liverpool. The four sides listed above must be regarded as the main contenders, although Manchester City's win over Chelsea has done nothing to weaken my initial conviction that the title will ultimately be heading to either Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford. That said, it is likely that City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool will all have a large say in which of the two is eventually crowned champions.        

Do Manchester City have a plan?

Almost inevitably, Manchester City have dominated the summer transfer window thus far. The irrepressible financial muscle of the Abu Dhabi United Group has already succeeded in bringing Yaya Toure, David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov to Eastlands for a combined fee of around £75m, and the spending spree shows no signs of slowing down. Aston Villa are now apparently resigned to losing James Milner after the player made his desire to leave clear to Martin O'Neill, and in Italy, the signing of Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli also appears simply a matter of time, with a fee reportedly close to being agreed. City boss Roberto Mancini has also come out in the last week and publicly declared his interest in LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. If the Citizens end up landing all of these targets then, even relying on conservative estimates, it is likely that the total outlay for this window could reach as much as £150m, surpassing the figure of around £130m spent on reinforcements last term. Whilst, in a financial sense, these figures are almost irrelevant in the case of a club for whom money is no object, Manchester City's relentless spending raises an important footballing question: is their transfer policy indicative of a careful, methodical approach towards becoming the dominant force of the English and European game, or suggestive of a group of impossibly rich businessmen playing fantasy football?

Even the most sceptical of City fans would find it difficult to argue with the remarkable progress their club has made since Abu Dhabi's takeover in August 2008. The perception of Manchester City as perennial Premier League strugglers may have already been banished with the help of Thaksin Shinawatra's millions, but the investment Sheikh Mansour and co. has transformed the club even further, from mid-table mediocrity to Champions League contention. Last season, the Citizens signed genuine top-level operators such as Carlos Tevez, Emanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, and this summer has seen a continuation. Kolo's brother Yaya is the closest thing in world football right now to Patrick Vieira at his peak, and Valencia schemer David Silva's inability to hold down a place in the exceptional, World Cup-winning Spanish midfield shouldn't fool anyone - he is a player with world-class potential, linked to a host of top clubs before City made their move. Jerome Boateng also impressed in South Africa after an uncertain start, and Lazio defender Kolarov provides a potent attacking threat from full-back. Moreover, with Yaya Toure the oldest of the new recruits at 27, it is clear that Manchester City are focusing their attentions on younger players possessed by the desire to win trophies, rather than established stars with less to prove.

It does seem, then, that City's considerable financial outlay this summer can be explained as the result of a coherent transfer policy. Boss Roberto Mancini spoke in the wake of the Kolarov signing of his desire to have 'two top-class players for each position', in order to ensure that his squad are fully prepared for the domestic and European challenges which lie ahead. There is, however, significant reason to wonder whether this approach will yield the kind of success which the fans and owners crave. Firstly, with so many top class players, it may prove difficult for Mancini to know his strongest team, and his attempts to find it may result in inconsistent results in the first few months of the season, costing City valuable points. But potentially a much bigger problem lies in the sheer competition for places at Eastlands. It is certain that, having arrived for hefty transfer fees, Silva, Toure and Kolarov will not expect to be sitting on the bench, and their talent will probably ensure their position as first team regulars. If this happens, then it is hard to see the likes of Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Philips being willing to accept the role of bench-warmer that they left Chelsea to escape.

There will almost certainly be, given Manchester City's huge squad list, a considerable cull of personnel before the new season. But if Mancini's words are to be believed, then it will still be a nigh-on impossible task to keep everyone happy, unless the Italian adopts an extreme form of squad rotation. Such a policy rarely works on the pitch at the top level, since the best sides are forged around a spine of quality players who benefit from playing together week-in, week-out. Another problem, arising directly from City's hyper-activity in the transfer market, is that Roberto Mancini may be faced with the same problem which confronted Mark Hughes at the beginning of last season - namely, that a first XI consisting of too many new signings invariably takes time to gel, and more often than not yields inconsistent results in the meantime. In Hughes' case, this manifested itself not in losses - for the Citizens suffered only one league defeat in his tenure - but in an abundance of draws, which undermined City's push towards a Champions League place, and ultimately cost the Welshman his job. Mancini will know that, despite statements of support from the Eastlands hierarchy at the end of last season, his position as manager remains tenuous, and completely dependent on whether or not his team matches the ambitious targets set by his superiors - either of a sustained title challenge or, more likely, comfortable qualification for the Champions League next season.

With another summer of huge spending, the Manchester City hierarchy have sent out a clear message to their cross-town rivals that they fully intend to join them at Europe's top table. Roberto Mancini has no margin for error if he is to prove himself worthy of leading the charge.