Mancini hints at Tevez stay

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hinted that striker Carlos Tevez could stay at the club next season.

The Argentine forward spent much of the winter in his native Argentina following a highly publicised falling out with Mancini.

But he has since returned to England, scoring four goals in his last two games, leaving the Italian to insist the pair are no longer in conflict.

“What has happened is in the past. He is no problem in the training ground or dressing room,” he told The Sun.

Mancini also recently suggested that fellow striker Mario Balotelli could be sold after the Italian’s sending off against Arsenal, the latest in a series of incidents involving the 21-year-old, but added that he would wait until the end of the season to think about players’ futures.

“After the season we will see what can happen with the players,” he said.

“It depends. I think it is important that we think about the next four games.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Nigel De Jong praised Tevez’s contribution to the club after his side revived their title challenge with successive victories against West Brom and Norwich.

“It just is a joy to watch,” he said of Tevez and strike partner Sergio Aguero’s performance against Norwich on Saturday.

“I mean, if you play behind them and see how they play together, how they move together and play with each other.

“It’s not just the two of them — there are other guys in the team as well — and I just think it’s a joy to watch for every football player. In a way it’s a relief to be on the same side as them.”

The Dutch international pointed out that the club need multiple options in attack after a season that has seen his side compete on three fronts.

“We have a big squad and that is for a reason,” he said.

“It keeps everyone sharp up until the end of the season because even in these last games, it is all still to play for.”

“So you can see that if you do not perform you will be on the bench. This time it was Carlos and Sergio but it could be Edin Dzeko or someone else next week.”

As for the title race, in which City are five points behind rivals Manchester United but with a match between the two at the Etihad Stadium to come, De Jong insisted the league is not decided yet.

“Our confidence is very high after two games in which we scored 10 goals and conceded two. Confidence is high due to the fact the pressure is off a little bit for the title race,” he said.

“But nothing is over yet. We will keep fighting until the end. We have the players to be title contenders and we still are so we just have to keep fighting and see where we end the season.

“Everyone knows it will be hard to win the title — you have to be a realist — but, on the other hand, nothing is impossible. It’s still playable, even when you have four games left.”

“It’s not in our own hands anymore. We have a game against them at home so we can make the gap smaller. We will see what happens.”