Return of the stylish assassin
AGAINST Norwich, Carlos Tevez showed what makes him so special and why Manchester City were so keen to have him back. . .
DESIRE
If anyone doubted his commitment to City’s cause after his self-imposed exile, then they need not have bothered. The Argentinian chased down every ball at Carrow Road — underlined by the way he pounced on Ryan Bennett’s short backpass to complete his hat-trick in the 80th minute. It would have been easy for Tevez to take a back seat during the closing stages of City’s season, but that just is not his style. He worked as hard as anyone in a blue shirt, with the combative and robust style that has made him such a Premier League hit. Maybe another controversial controve City forward should take a leaf out of Tevez’s book?
SHARPNESS
The rustiness from his six-month ‘break’ is go gone — the way he took his second goal is te testament to that. He showed brilliant r reactions to nod home from close range a after Yaya Toure’s drive was parried by John Ruddy. Furthermore, Tevez is fresh after his break, so weary legs will not affect his sharpness during the run-in. Credit has to be given to Roberto Mancini for the way he has handled Te Tevez’s return, easing him back into Pr Premier League action. And his three goa goals at Carrow Road suggests that Tevez could coul yet have a say in the title race.
PERFECT PARTNER
Mancini says s it is too simplistic to claim that Manchester Manchest City would win the title if he had Tevez at his disposal for the whole season. But Tevez and Sergio Aguero look every inch a championship-winning combination. The Argentinian duo linked up excellently and Tevez’s backheel to set up Aguero for City’s second was the highlight of their scintillating display. Mancini said: ‘Sergio is fantastic like Carlos and I think that together they played a fantastic game. It’s not easy to mark the players when they’re like this. They seem to have an understanding.’ If Tevez stays, expect fireworks from the Argentinian attackers next season.
FINISHING
Tevez may have spent more time on the golf course than the football pitch last winter but he still knows where the goal is. His hat-trick had all the hallmarks of a Premier League assassin. The power in his shooting is still very much there, as seen in his right-foot rocket for City’s first goal. The way he popped up in the six-yard box for his second showed that his quickness of thought has not waned and the way he kept a cool head to round the hapless Ruddy to complete his hat-trick showed the poise of a striker at the top of his game. ‘Tevez is a goalscorer. His movement is very very good — no matter how you wrap it up he’s a top player,’ said Norwich manager Paul Lambert. It’s hard to argue with that assessment.
SAMI MOKBEL