UK: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini says Carlos Tevez must prove his fitness before the FA Cup final

Record ID: 859394

  • Title: UK: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini says Carlos Tevez must prove his fitness before the FA Cup final
  • Date: 7th May 2011
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, UK (FILE) (REUTERS) MORE OF TEVEZ TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA11U316NO7H34XLD1Y45UMWP02
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  • Story Text: Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez must prove he is fit enough to face Tottenham Hotspur next Tuesday or risk missing the FA Cup final against Stoke City on May 14, manager Roberto Mancini said on Thursday (May 5).
    The 27-year-old Argentine striker has not played since City's defeat at Liverpool on April 11 when he tore a hamstring and missed City's semi-final win over Manchester United.
    Mancini told reporters at his weekly news conference that Tevez remained a doubt for Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Goodison Park and that time was running out for him to be fit for the Wembley date.
    "If Carlos doesn't play against Everton, and if he doesn't play against Tottenham, it will be impossible for Carlos to play in the final," Mancini said.
    "It's difficult to know now what will happen in the next week. I think that Carlos needs to train because it's impossible to play without training, without a match. We have 10 days, I don't know, we're waiting for these 10 days and we hope that he can recover."
    Fourth-placed City lead Spurs by seven points with four matches left in the race for a Champions league qualifying spot.
    While doubts remain about Tevez, defender Micah Richards appears to be near to a comeback following his hamstring injury and could be on the bench against Everton.
    "I think that Micah is very close to coming with us. Carlos continued to train yesterday, he did something with us and we will see the next day and tomorrow we will decide if Micah can be on the bench Saturday," said Mancini.
    City are appearing in their first FA Cup final exactly 30 years to the day since they lost 3-2 to Spurs in a replay at Wembley. Stoke are in the final for the first time.
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