Manchester City‘s quest for Champions League football has suffered a huge blow after star striker and captain Carlos Tevez was ruled out for the next month after injuring his hamstring in Monday night’s defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
“Tevez is not available for Saturday,” said Mancini, ahead of the FA Cup semi-final this weekend. “I think he will recover in three or four weeks. It’s a big problem in this moment but we can’t take any risk because after this we have six games in the league and, hopefully, a Cup final. My hope is that we have him back fit for the last couple of games in the league or the [FA Cup] final.”
Huge blow for City’s hope of ending their 30+ year quest for a trophy and will make their battle with Spurs for that final Champions League place even tighter. Tevez has been the inspirational leader for City all season and has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season.
So who replaces Tevez against Man United this weekend in the FA Cup semi-final? Mancini was reluctant to give anything away saying:
“I don’t yet know my starting XI. We have 48 hours still to decide. Every player knows this is an important match for the club. I trust all my players. We can reach the final if we play well and I’m sure every player, whoever I pick, will give 100% on Saturday. Whether Edin [Dzeko] or Mario [Balotelli] play… I don’t know. They both have a chance.”
Based on their form this season, the sight of either Dzeko or Balotelli will not excite City fans. Pity they couldn’t use someone like Bellamy or Adebayor, two strikers unwanted by Mancini who are better than the options he currently is looking at.
