Test for Carlos
Roberto Mancini has given Carlos Tevez a May 10 deadline to prove his fitness for Manchester City’s first FA Cup final appearance for 30 years.
Manchester City manager Mancini says Tevez must play some part in the Premier League game against Tottenham, four days before the May 14 final, to be considered for the big day at Wembley against Stoke.
Mancini admits he cannot risk throwing a ring-rusty Tevez straight into the final on the draining Wembley pitch after a five-week lay-off without some match practice. Tevez, City’s captain and leading goal-scorer, is facing a race against time to recover after tearing a hamstring in City’s defeat at Liverpool 12 days ago.
He is in Milan receiving intensive treatment from Argentina’s international team physio and was not at Wembley to watch City’s semi-final win over Manchester United.
“It is important for Carlos to play one game before the final, for sure,” said Mancini.
“If he didn’t, he could miss his chance because a cup final at Wembley is very draining for players.
“His progress has been good and we have another four weeks yet, so I hope we can recover him for the final as well as our last three Premier League games. That is important for him and for us.”
Tevez’s decision to fly to Italy for treatment rather than work with City’s own medical and physiotherapy staff has caused concern, especially as Inter Milan have been linked with making a summer move for him.
But former Inter boss Mancini says he had no qualms with Tevez’s decision.
“He has confidence in Argentina’s physio,” said Mancini.
“His injury is not easy to deal with and he always works with this physio. It is not unusual for this to happen. I have my doctor back in Italy, for instance, and I go to see him. Every person is different.
“I don’t worry about the Milan clubs because I know he is there for treatment, mornings and afternoons. ”
Defender Micah Richards has a better chance of recovery for the final, with Mancini saying he should be fit “in a week to 10 days”.
But Mancini wants all talk of the cup final put to one side, insisting his players focus on the four Premier League games before Wembley that can clinch the club a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League for the first time.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, meanwhile, has weighed into the row surrounding their rearranged fixture with City and insisted the matter had “nothing to do with anyone else”.
The two clubs were due to meet at Eastlands on FA Cup final weekend but the game is now set for Tuesday, May 17.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is concerned Stoke could benefit from not winning the match, but Pulis said: “I can see where Harry is coming from, but any team we send out will do their best.”
If Stoke were to lose the FA Cup final, they could still qualify for next season’s Europa League if City finish in the top four in the Premier League and then not need their Europa League place.
Crouch ready for Man City 'cup final'
Peter Crouch believes Manchester City will fight out the unofficial cup final with Tottenham four days before the Wembley showpiece.
The two teams meet in the League on May 10 – four days before City play Stoke in search of their first silverware under the billionaire regime.
The Champions League is the main target of both City and Spurs and the striker believes – like last year – the race for fourth will be decided by the outcome of their league clash.
Crouch, who got the winner at Eastlands last year, said: “Everyone will be watching it. It’s like a cup final in many ways.
“I enjoyed that one last year, that was great. I know this year they are going to be trying all out.”
The hitman was speaking after the Premier League match of the season so far, Spurs’ 3-3 draw with rivals Arsenal.
“It was a little bit frustrating [to drop points] but we’ve still closed the gap," he said. "It’s two points now to Man City. It might rest on going up there again.”
Manchester City ready to fight Inter Milan for £15m Zapata says talkSHITE
Manchester City are lining up a summer bid for Udinese defender Cristian Zapata, according to reports in Italy.
The 24-year-old has become the cornerstone of the Serie A side's defence this season but Udinese are bracing themselves for offers at the end of the season.
It is understood that Inter Milan, who are keen to freshen up their ageing defence, are currently leading the charge for Zapata, who is a Colombia international.
But reports within Italy have now hinted that Zapata is more likely to move to Manchester this summer with City poised to meet Udinese's £15m asking price.
EMMANUEL Adebayor drew inspiration from Jose Mourinho, Patrick Vieira and a 1987 science fiction blockbuster, then galloped out to hunt Barcelona down “like a lion” before helping Real Madrid win the Spanish Cup on Wednesday.
The fact that he is a Manchester City reject is almost an irrelevance to Adebayor in comparison to the trauma of the African Nations Cup and the rebel attack on the Togo team bus.
His arrival at Madrid has helped them stop a run of five defeats and conceding a glut of goals against Barca to lift the Copa del Rey for the first time in 18 years.
Cristiano Ronaldo may have notched the winning goal but it was Adebayor who worked, harassed and hassled Barcelona’s defence until they were ragged and, eventually, beaten.
“Mourinho told us that Barca are not Robocop,” said Togo striker Adebayor.
“They are one of the best sides in the world, but they are just human, just players like us, which means if we try to play our football and if you press them high they will make some mistakes, they will lose the ball.
“So we just ran at them like tigers or like lions. We pressed them, they lost the ball and that gave our players more confidence.
“The team that wanted to win it more was Real Madrid and so we won it.
“It is the first trophy of my senior career, which is such a delight. I was waiting for this for a very long time and it’s even more special for me, especially with what happened in 2010, because I could have been gone. But today I am alive and I still have a chance to win the Champions League with Real Madrid – it’s fantastic.”
Adebayor admits his darkest days at City left him riddled with self-doubt and suffering a football depression.
Vieira came to his rescue and now the club that tried so hard so often to sign the big French midfielder have notched up a draw and a win against Barca, the Spanish champions and Champions League favourites, in the space of only five days.
The fact that the sequence follows a 5-0 defeat at the Nou Camp in November and an aggregate score of 16-2 since Pep Guardiola took over in Barcelona is all the sweeter.
Adebayor added: “All of those frustrations and hard work pay off in the end, of course. I remember when Patrick Vieira told me, ‘Football is like a big tyre, it’s a rotation. You just have to keep going and never give up’.
“If I have to dedicate this trophy to somebody I would give it to Patrick because he is like my godfather in football. When I was going through my difficult moment, he was unbelievable.
“He was there for me as a brother, as a father. He was even at my house telling me, ‘Manu, football is a strange game, you don’t know what tomorrow brings’.
“So after a couple of months I am here winning the cup with Real Madrid. And Patrick sent me a message saying, ‘I’m happy to see you celebrating and enjoying life again’.”
OTHER BOLLOX
Sir Alex Ferguson is planning to make a bid for Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder at the end of the season. The Manchester United boss wants to exploit growing turmoil at the Italian champions and is prepared to meet their £25m asking price. the Daily Mail
Manager Arsene Wenger is to be given a transfer kitty of around £40m to rebuild Arsenal in the summer, with Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among his prime targets. the Daily Telegraph
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is planning a big spending spree in the summer, despite the emergence of a new generation of talent at Anfield. Daily Star
Dalglish, meanwhile, has opened the door for Alberto Aquilani to return to Anfield from his spell on loan at Juventus. the Times
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wants first refusal on Ipswich starlet Connor Wickham. the Daily Mail
Spurs are keen on signing Napoli and Italy midfielder Christian Maggio, according to the player's agent. Daily Mirror
Nottingham Forest midfielder Guy Moussi, who is set to be a free agent this summer, is a target for Stoke, Everton and Wigan. Daily Mirror
Fulham boss Mark Hughes is in touch with Arsenal over the possibility of taking midfielder Aaron Ramsey on a season-long loan in 2011-12. Metro
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway insists his club will not sell star midfielder Charlie Adam on the cheap. But the Seasiders boss admits it will be almost impossible to head off a bid from Liverpool. Metro
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says only the west London club can catch Manchester United in the battle for Premier League glory, with Arsenal having thrown away their chance.The Guardian
Carlo Ancelotti will be sacked as Chelsea manager, even if the Blues overhaul Manchester United to win the Premier League. Daily Star
Liverpool have clinched the most lucrative kit deal in English football history, with Boston-based Warrior Sports agreeing to pay £25m a year to replace Adidas as the Anfield club's supplier. The deal outstrips the £23.3m Nike pays Manchester United. the Times
Gerard Houllier is not expected to be on the touchline again for Aston Villa this season following his health scare, but the club will keep his job open in the hope that the Frenchman makes a full recovery in time for the next campaign. the Daily Express
Stoke manager Tony Pulis was stunned to hear about Houllier's latest health scare - because he reckons the Frenchman looks in better health than he does himself. Daily Mirror
Didier Drogba will hold crisis talks with Chelsea over his future next week, with the Ivory Coast striker likely to ask for a move unless he is guaranteed a prominent role next season. the Sun
West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil is considering taking legal action against Aston Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker over a tackle that has left him fearing for his career. the Daily Telegraph
Dutch goalkeeper Gino Coutinho has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of owning a major cannabis farm and being involved in forgery and money laundering. Coutinho plays for Dutch top flight side ADO Den Haag and has represented the Netherlands at under-21 level. the Guardian
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