Mancini: Tevez apology accepted

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says Carlos Tevez has been welcomed back to the club and could be back in action in two weeks’ time.

Speaking after City’s 4-0 win over Porto in the Europa League on Wednesday – which secured them a 6-1 aggregate triumph and passage into the round-of-16 – Mancini said he would meet with Tevez on Thursday to discuss his future.

“I checked what Carlos said on his statement and tomorrow I will talk with him. I have accepted his apology,” Mancini said.

Tevez returned to his native Argentina following a highly publicised falling out with Mancini after the manager’s accusation that the striker refused to warm-up for a Champions League game at Bayern Munich.

“I did say he was finished at the time,” Mancini said.

“But then one week after Munich I called him to my house and said ‘Carlos, apologise to everyone and this will be finished for me’. I don’t have any problem.”

“Yes, he can play again. I think he needs two or three weeks to train and play games of some sort but if he is in shape then of course he can be back.”

The 4-0 scoreline flattered City, but Mancini was delighted with the big win.

“I think that we played a good game, it was difficult but we knew this before the game because Porto are a tough team,” he said.

“We won 4-0 and maybe this was too much but we won and we’re through to the next stage.”

“It was good, it was important to score quickly but after Porto had lots of possession and we had to play with that.”

Porto fell behind to a Sergio Aguero goal after just 19 seconds, but City had to wait until the 75th minute to make it 2-0 through Edin Dzeko before David Silva and David Pizarro netted late on.

Porto coach Vitor Pereira felt his side were unfortunate after controlling much of the contest.

“Porto were clearly the best team on the pitch until Manchester City’s second goal came,” Pereira said.

“Porto were the only team that wanted to play and score, City was just taking advantage of our ego and our attacking performance.”

“They only tried counter-attacking moves, and they are dangerous. It’s beyond any doubt that their players have a lot of quality, but the one who played, the one who wanted to win, was Porto.”