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Manchester Special: City's Tevez Piles Pressure On United's Ferguson
City striker stole the headlines, but United counterpart ran the show.
Jan 19, 2010 6:46:00 PM
Carlos Tevez’s two-goal salvo sent a message to Sir Alex Ferguson and left Manchester United on the cusp of a League Cup semi-final exit.
Manchester City’s new hero in blue stole the headlines in the 2-1 win for the hosts, but it was his former strike partner Wayne Rooney whose world class quality provided clarity amidst a thunderous first leg battle.
The question of how United contrived to fall to defeat in this contest will perplex Ferguson more than the United fans who may question his judgement about the Argentinian defector.
Up until Rafael da Silva’s rookie mistake to tug on the shirt of Craig Bellamy to concede a penalty in the first half, the Premier League champions had been a cut above their “noisey neighbours.”
A midfield packed with Anderson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher put the squeeze on Roberto Mancini’s side, choked by ‘catenaccio’.
Unable to retain possession or apply pressure, the visitor’s breakthrough was anything but a surprise. An excellent cross from Antonio Valencia eventually fell to Ryan Giggs, who had the easiest of tap-ins to score his first derby goal since 1996.
Dominance from the Premier League’s original powerhouse outfit seemed certain. Had it not been for their naïve Brazilian full-back, the headline writers could have been left without anything Tevez-related to concoct.
Instead, months of anger from Ferguson’s summer snub erupted with a thunderbolt of a penalty just before the half-time break.
City finally found the verve missing in the opening 45 minutes. Charging out of the dressing room on to the pitch, the game flipped around as Tevez again found space to nod home the winner from close range.
Analysis of United’s faults after defeat will centre on their former No.32. On this evidence, the right call is to back the judgement of the greatest manager in the club’s history.
A straight choice between Tevez and Rooney leaves only one winner; the man still starring for the Old Trafford outfit.
Rooney was United’s inspiration and the best player on the pitch. Belgium duo Vincent Kompany and Dedryck Boyata had no answer to his wide range of twists, turns and power play.
Had it not been for another picture book display from Shay Given, he would have been the man celebrating a winning performance.
There was never likely to be space at United for both Rooney and Tevez with their similarity forcing the Scot to pick his favourite. Goals curry favour and leave question marks from certain quarters after Tevez heaped embarrassment on his former manager in match-winning style.
The task now for Ferguson is to justify this decision. A face saving turnaround at the Theatre of Dreams has to be crafted to banish the demons of the terrier from Buenos Aires.
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section
Manchester City’s new hero in blue stole the headlines in the 2-1 win for the hosts, but it was his former strike partner Wayne Rooney whose world class quality provided clarity amidst a thunderous first leg battle.
The question of how United contrived to fall to defeat in this contest will perplex Ferguson more than the United fans who may question his judgement about the Argentinian defector.
Up until Rafael da Silva’s rookie mistake to tug on the shirt of Craig Bellamy to concede a penalty in the first half, the Premier League champions had been a cut above their “noisey neighbours.”
A midfield packed with Anderson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher put the squeeze on Roberto Mancini’s side, choked by ‘catenaccio’.
Unable to retain possession or apply pressure, the visitor’s breakthrough was anything but a surprise. An excellent cross from Antonio Valencia eventually fell to Ryan Giggs, who had the easiest of tap-ins to score his first derby goal since 1996.
Dominance from the Premier League’s original powerhouse outfit seemed certain. Had it not been for their naïve Brazilian full-back, the headline writers could have been left without anything Tevez-related to concoct.
Instead, months of anger from Ferguson’s summer snub erupted with a thunderbolt of a penalty just before the half-time break.
City finally found the verve missing in the opening 45 minutes. Charging out of the dressing room on to the pitch, the game flipped around as Tevez again found space to nod home the winner from close range.
Analysis of United’s faults after defeat will centre on their former No.32. On this evidence, the right call is to back the judgement of the greatest manager in the club’s history.
A straight choice between Tevez and Rooney leaves only one winner; the man still starring for the Old Trafford outfit.
Rooney was United’s inspiration and the best player on the pitch. Belgium duo Vincent Kompany and Dedryck Boyata had no answer to his wide range of twists, turns and power play.
Had it not been for another picture book display from Shay Given, he would have been the man celebrating a winning performance.
There was never likely to be space at United for both Rooney and Tevez with their similarity forcing the Scot to pick his favourite. Goals curry favour and leave question marks from certain quarters after Tevez heaped embarrassment on his former manager in match-winning style.
The task now for Ferguson is to justify this decision. A face saving turnaround at the Theatre of Dreams has to be crafted to banish the demons of the terrier from Buenos Aires.
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section
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