Roberto Mancini claims Carlos Tevez is scoring for fun because he is playing with a smile on his face.
Tevez has bounced back from a difficult start to his Manchester City career by scoring eight goals in seven games last month to take his tally for the season to 12.
He struggled to settle after his controversial switch from Manchester United and managed just two league goals in his first four months.
But he is in a rich vein of goalscoring form now and Mancini puts it down to him being happy.
“I don’t like to pick out individuals because we have been collectively very good in the two games we have won against Stoke and Wolves, but Carlos Tevez has been outstanding,” said the City manager.
“He is a world-class striker, who has shown that he is in top form.
“He is playing with a smile on his face and eight goals in the month of December is just an incredible effort.
“Confidence is a great thing with players and especially when it comes to goal scoring.
“Carlos is not just putting the ball in the net though, his team ethic is fantastic and he has a good understanding with the players around him.
“His movement and pace worries defenders and he is clever too. He has scored 12 times already for City since he came to the club and that is an impressive ratio.”
Mancini has made a dream start to his Eastlands career with five goals scored in the wins over Stoke and Wolves and none conceded.
He faces a huge week with an FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough today and a Carling Cup semi-final against United on Wednesday.
Mancini, who won the Coppa Italia 10 times as a player and manager, says he understands the importance of the FA Cup and will play a strong side at the Riverside, despite missing almost an entire team because of injury and the African Cup of Nations.
He is likely to field a makeshift centre-half pairing of Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany and is delighted with the resilience shown by his players.
“After three wins in succession in the Premier League, we have momentum on our side and I want us to maintain that in the FA Cup,” said the Italian.
“It’s a big competition, one of the most famous domestic cups in the world and one that is loved by the fans. I want to win it.
“I have been really pleased with the way the players have responded since I arrived. We have worked hard on concentration and organisation and we will need both those things against Middlesbrough.
“Players will have to be flexible because we have a lot of injuries, but already they have shown their willingness to fight for the team.
“They have shown a great appetite for their work and pride in their performance.
“It has been a busy period and getting enough rest and recuperation into players has been vital.
“We have many injuries and some may have to play a part when they could do with a rest.”
from mirrorfootball.co.uk
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