Tev gives City a better tilt at title

Posted Friday, February 17, 2012 by The Sun

Tev gives City a better tilt at title
LAUGHTER LINES ... Tevez shares joke with his driver

Carlos Tevez might not be Mr Popular among Manchester City supporters and even the players.

That's fine. But in life you have to be practical and there's one simple question that should be asked. Would they prefer for him never to play for the club again, and for them not to win the title, or would it be better for him to return and for them to become champions?

I think we all know the answer.

City could still win the title without him. But would they have a better chance with him in the fold? Definitely.

The fact Tevez is back in England is a start. That indicates people's stances have softened a bit but there's a bit to go before he pulls on a City shirt again.

Roberto Mancini has said there needs to be an apology. Whether that will happen, I don't know.

I think we can all acknowledge Tevez made a mistake in refusing to warm up again in preparation for going on as a sub against Bayern Munich, even if there are always two sides to a story.

But that's life, people make mistakes and you can't have a situation where there is no chance to move on.

Ideally, from both the club and player's point of view, Tevez would have moved in the January window.

But now I'm sure Tevez would like to get back playing and, if he scores goals and helps City win the title, you might find that potential buyers are prepared to pay a bit more.

Of course, if Tevez is scoring it's only going to help City's chances of holding off the challenge of Manchester United to win the Premier League.

If he helps City do that, I'm not saying all will be forgiven. But you'd imagine it would soon be forgotten in all the celebrations. People will say that reintegrating Tevez will upset the dressing room, yet the only people who will know that are Mancini and the players.

I've been in situations where I've gone back into a dressing room after making a mistake and I've also been on the other side of it too.

Back in 1995, Eric Cantona came back to the United fold after serving an eight-month football ban and doing community service after attacking that Crystal Palace fan.

Eric had made a mistake, he'd been dealt with by the FA and the criminal courts. It wasn't up to us to judge him. We knew him as a good bloke and a great footballer.

When he returned at the start of October 1995, we were already out of the UEFA Cup and the League Cup.

By the end of the season, Eric had scored 15 times in 31 appearances — including the winner in the FA Cup final, when he was captain — as we won the Double.

He served his time and everyone then moved on.

And that's the best thing City can do with Tevez.