Madness in Bavaria: What now for Carlos Tevez?

 

Public Enemy No.1 at Eastlands??

Tomorrow's headline's should have been about Utd's stuttering performance and great escape against Basle at Old Trafford tonight, however all eyes are back to Man City and events at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The result pails into insignificance but once again its Carlos Tevez that has brought the attention of the world's media upon Mancini and City, and again, its for all the wrong reasons.

Regardless of the problems and difficulties that Tevez has experienced in the last couple of months as well as his failure to find an escape from Eastlands, his behaviour has been nothing short of disgraceful. Tonight's actions is undoubtedly the icing on the cake of the Argentine's enigmatic and controversial City career. A 2-0 away defeat to Bayern Munich is bad enough for your team and fans, but for one of your star players to point blank refuse to play and come off the bench is something similar to scenes reminiscent to those found within the confines of a school playground. What will be interesting now is what City will judge to do next. Fans are already calling for Tevez's contract to be immediately terminated, Mancini already has angrily stated to the BBC that his City career was "as good as over". From the outset, it does appear that Tevez's time in as a City is now most certainly drawing to an enforced close. One thing is certain, this is a new and equally unwanted chapter that City would have wished to have avoided. If the recent embarrassment involving Garry Cook and Derek Boyata regarding his lurid "cancer" email wasn't bad enough to contend with.

Enough is Enough: Mancini's patience has run out and who can blame him.

Despite all this, it gives me great sadness to see scene's such as this. It cannot be denied the quality and brilliance that Tevez can offer when fully focused and committed. His previous spells at his previous clubs (including Man Utd) are credit to how talented he is. But there is no forgiveness for the actions we have seen from him of late. He should honestly be ashamed of his actions and for letting his professionalism slip at such a public arena and above all, the loyalty to the club which at the end of the day, are his employers and pays his wages. But to some respect, City should also be blamed for not resolving Tevez's equal unrest and allowing him to leave when they had a buyer (most notably Corinthians) and respected his wishes for letting him go and head to Brazil as he wanted. But sadly as we all see in football today money talks and Tevez, very much like a child stuck in after school detention, was forced to see the transfer window shut and him be resigned to staying in England until January or next summer at least. Now the question is after tonight's events....what now for both player and club?

The next couple of days will be littered with re-ignited tabloid headlines and pictures on the back pages of a long faced and disconsolate Carlos Tevez, combined with a raging Roberto Mancini and his words of anger and ultimate disappointment. But City, despite playing their own role leading up to his refusal to play tonight and events previous, should act upon his immediately. In the interest of the players, fans and the club itself, this can't go on any longer and could really harm their own bid in attempting to win the Premiership. Stability is one vital attribute to success both on and off the pitch, and if it means terminating a dysfunctional player's contract that is causing great unrest, like Tevez, to whatever excess amount of money in compensation it requires, so be it. Enough is enough and City need to get real with this issue. As for Tevez, the next couple of weeks will determine whether he's remembered for his footballing achievements or for his actions away from the pitch. Sadly, i feel in England at least, it will be regarding the latter.

JC

Whatever the outcome, the times up ahead will be a very difficult period for the Argentine. Whether he can restore his credibility as a loyal team player or not from his time at City, remains to be seen.