Terrace Talk

Carlos Tevez plays every match as if he’s trying to escape the ghetto. His way is football from the street, as if each game is a trial game, a need to make his mark.

On 23 August 2006, Sky Sports revealed that Tevez was refusing to play for Corinthians. On Thursday the 31st August 2006 Tevez confirmed that both he and Javier Macherano were signing for West Ham United. Tevez’s future at West Ham was the subject of constant speculation ever since he signed for the Hammers, with the media linking him to many European clubs, including Manchester United. The next summer Tevez claimed that he would not make a decision on his future until the Copa America finished in July. On July 5th the Daily Mail broke news that Tevez had agreed to join Manchester United in a deal worth £20 million. Following the payment of £2 million to West Ham by MSI, after a major conflict over the ownership rights, Tevez was released from his contract with West Ham. Manchester United put forward a proposed two-year loan deal for Tevez to the Premier League, which was approved on August 10th.

Three moths earlier Carlos Tevez’ last goal for West Ham United came at Old Trafford on the same day the Red Devils picked up their league title. The player showed grit, determination, strength, passion and skill, qualities which sparked Sir Alex Ferguson interest. United pounced and agreed to a deal to bring the Argentinian to Old Trafford. Tevez came in and completed another quartet with Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo to rival the amazing quartet in the 1999 Treble winning season.

Before the arrival, Tevez stated: “To play for United would obviously be huge. My dream is to be an idol in English football and I can achieve this now.”

There was much debate in the press as to whether Tevez and Rooney would be able to form a partnership, with both players having similar qualities. Most of them claimed “They’re too similar” or “It’ll never work.” But it turned to be the exact opposite. The two front men have formed a good understanding in the opening part of the season and the goal scored by Tevez and set up by Rooney against Middlesborough was amazing.

Tevez made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on August 15th, replacing Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury, and set up a goal for Paul Scholes. On September 23rd he scored his first goal with a diving header, in a 2-0 victory for Manchester United against Chelsea, at Old Trafford. Carlos was the Man of the Match in the following premiership game against Aston Villa where the potential of the Wayne Rooney - Carlos Tevez partnership was lauded by the press, with a brace for Rooney, an assist, and a penalty win for the Argentine. The partnership between the two grew in stature. In the next Premiership match at home to Middlesbrough, Tevez scored two goals with Rooney grabbing the third one and two assists.

“I am so happy to be at Manchester United” he said. “It is a magnificent football club, a grand club. I feel lucky to have this opportunity. I really do not want to miss this chance and I can say now that I want to stay in Manchester for all of my career. Or most of my career, at least. I must improve on my game for this to happen and to keep working and learning.” At the start we weren’t so sure that he and Wayne Rooney could play together. It works because they can adapt and adjust. They rely on speed and movement, cunning and instinct, passing and control, quick feet and devastating finishing as shown against Middlesbrough in the Premier League, and is a clear candidate as one of the best goal of this season. Rooney was moving in one direction carrying the ball away from the goal until he suddenly produced a back-heel into space, where Tevez had anticipated something was happening and he then simply swept the ball into the net. Together they had sent an entire stadium the wrong way. Carlos remembers “Yes, we have a special understanding, it works for us. He’s the best player at the club. When I signed for Manchester United, he was one of the first players to come up to me and to be nice to me. He made me feel welcome, made me feel part of the team. I understand him as a player and I like the way that he plays, as well as his personality, his character. He has many qualities and strengths. He is a strong and skillful player. In that goal against Middlesbrough, you can see how clever Rooney is. We seem to have a confidence in each other. You must give him credit too for that. Since day one, the very first training session, I came home and I knew that we could play well together. I watched him, I studied his movement and sometimes it is what he does off the ball, as well as what he does with the ball, that makes him a special player. The playing relationship between us came quickly.”

On Janueary 19, 2008 Cristiano Ronaldo hailed Carlos Tevez as the complete player. Ronaldo said “He is a great player. He is fast, aggressive, passes the ball well, he makes things happen and scores goals. I call him a complete player. It’s incredible the speed with which he has adapted to our team and his progress on the field can be seen by everybody. He is a key player for this Manchester United team and we hope he carries on in the same way.“

He’s shown a certain tenacity that has won over the United faithful. Tevez is not afraid of the dirty work — he does a good job when racing to help a troubled full back. Up in front, he makes more happen outside the box (better dribbling, better passing) but Rooney is more deadly inside the box. So the only clear winner is the old Scot who ignored the doubters and decided to pair them up.

Gianfranco Zola: “He is a talismanic magician with the ball”

 

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