Terry Venables: Eu need Tev now
Posted Saturday, September 24, 2011 by thesun.co.uk
GREAT SHAKES ... Carlos Tevez can help Roberto Mancini achieve success in the Champions League
ROBERTO MANCINI said Carlos Tevez would have to wait for his Champions League chance at Manchester City.
But I don't think City can afford to wait any longer if they want to keep their European dream alive.
The City boss must recall Tevez for their clash at Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
Yes, Mancini did the right thing by not putting him straight back into his team after his summer of turmoil in which he said he wanted to return to South America.
That dream died and the Argentinian remains at City, trying desperately not to trip over the tail between his legs.
Tevez, last season's talisman and main man in the blue half of Manchester, has played only one full 90 minutes this season — and that was in Wednesday's 2-0 Carling Cup win over Birmingham.
That was also just his second start of the season, his other coming in the league win over Wigan when he missed a penalty.
Tevez was on the bench as City kicked off their Champ-ions League campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw at home to Napoli.
Mancini's men were expected to swamp the Italians but I have to say it was one of the best performances from a Serie A side I have seen in many years.
They gave big-spending City a rude awakening and made them see, that despite what pundits predicted, they had not got off easy in the draw for the group stage.
In fact, if they do not muster a decent result at the Allianz Arena their dream could be over before it has even started.
Defeat would leave City with a mountain to climb to make it into the knockout phase. That is why Mancini must recall his Argy striker at the expense of Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian has found his feet after his £27million January switch from Wolfsburg.
He has hit six goals in four Premier League games this season, as well as one in the Community Shield defeat by Manchester United.
The former Bundesliga boy will undoubtedly know much about the Bayern defence.
And his supporters will be understandably calling for him to get the nod on Tuesday.
But City will have a better chance of winning the game on the counter.
That is why I believe the pace, trickery and tenacity of Tevez alongside his fellow Argy Sergio Aguero will give City a better chance.
City were naive against Napoli and the Italians showed the Champions League is a different kettle of fish.
With a trophy and Champions League place under his belt, Mancini may have been able to abandon his defensive principles domestically.
Sometimes Prem matches resort to a Wild West-style slugfest, with the result hinging on who scores the most, not who defends the best.
Europe, as Mancini seemed to have forgotten against Napoli, is a totally different ball game.
Going gung-ho is rarely an option. Teams have to be more intelligent and cagier.
Just like Mancini was for the early part of his City career when he would accept a 1-0 win.
City will have to return to their cautious ways to get a result in Munich. They will certainly have to be less obvious than against Napoli.
That's why the fleet-footed Tevez should be preferable to the blatant, bulldozing Dzeko.
Tevez could do a lot of damage playing in a deeper role behind the advanced Aguero who has the ability to devastate opponents.
He could make things happen for himself and Aguero.
The Argy pair have not had much chance to play together at City. They could be an awesome partnership.
After all the nonsense of the summer, Tevez has come out and publicly declared his love for City.
I get the feeling Mancini is not so sure of his sincerity.
But a typically robust all-action display from Tevez could go a long way to changing the Italian's opinion.
As well as getting City's Champions League campaign back on track.
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