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The fire of Carlos Tevez could ignite the semi-final first leg in Barcelona on Wednesday
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Jonathan Northcroft
There is nothing like auditioning alongside the cast you hope to join. Sir Alex Ferguson’s practice of signing players who perform memorably against Manchester United is established. The most famous example was Cristiano Ronaldo, bagged after a tour match against Sporting Lisbon in which the skills of the young Portuguese left Gary Neville with corkscrewed synapses, never mind twisted blood. Carlos Tevez also made an impression the first time he faced Ferguson’s team. It was at Old Trafford in August 2002, in a game to highlight Unicef that turned out to be one of the least charitable friendlies ever seen.
Boca Juniors were United’s opponents. Paul Scholes had a bee in his bonnet about something and ran about lopping Boca players with chainsaw tackles. Tevez was only 18 but took it upon himself to sort things out. His method involved applying an elbow to Scholes’s face and a red card was inevitable. You could not help but leave Old Trafford with positive thoughts of Tevez, though. Until his dismissal he had been easily the game’s eye-catching player, putting into it the sweat appropriate for a cup final rather than an exhibition. Ferguson was impressed and began monitoring the Argentinian as he went on to be three-time South American footballer of the year.
Tevez’s drive first endeared him to supporters at West Ham, where he did not score until March but was their player of the season for 2006-07. It aided him after joining United. He had to wait until late September for his first goal — a pivotal one against Chelsea — but had already won approval from teammates, fans and Ferguson, with levels of fighting spirit that matched those of Wayne Rooney. That spirit was in evidence again yesterday when his late header earned United a vital point in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn. Tevez exemplifies what Rafael Benitez says about top footballers of his nationality. “It’s clear that when you have a good Argentinian player it’s really good. They are very competitive and they have South American technique.”
It is perhaps not surprising that despite being dismissed by some, initially, as too similar to Rooney Tevez has emerged as one of the Theatre of Dreams’ lead actors. He has fought for stage space and won it, making nearly as many starts (34) as Rooney (35). Yesterday’s goal, his 18th so far, means he is now outscoring the England man by one. In Europe he has been especially productive, with four strikes in three starts.
“Having Tevez gave us a different way of playing,” said Ferguson. “He’s so busy, and he’s scored four goals which have been among the most important of our season: against Chelsea, in the last minute against Tottenham, at Liverpool and at Lyons.”
The “different way of playing” refers to the flexibility Tevez brings. Like Rooney, he naturally switches between No 9 and No 10, and having two players of that ilk, who can also go wide or drop into midfield, enhances the unpredictability in attack already brought by Ronaldo to dizzying levels. Europe, the first territory where English 4-4-2 died a death — and now it is happening in the Premier League — demands elastic strategies. In 2006, Barcelona had the Ronaldinho-Lionel Messi-Samuel Eto’o axis, with Henrik Larsson waiting to come off the bench. It was impossible to contain them. Only Messi remains in 2006 form, though Eto’o and Ronaldinho can never be discounted, and Barça now add Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic to their mix.
The world will be watching the Nou Camp and Tevez will want to put on a show for viewers in his homeland, especially because he is pitted against Messi. He was billed as the “new Maradona” before Messi relieved him of the title and it is Messi around whom Alfio Basile, the Argentina manager, builds the national team. Tevez, indeed, fears losing his place. Under pressure for not scoring in four internationals, he was sent off for taking off-the-ball retribution against a Colombian in a World Cup qualifier in November and has missed the past two internationals, with teenager Sergio Aguero taking his place. Messi and Aguero are pals and their on-field understanding has been contrasted to the difficulties Messi and Tevez have experienced in forming a partnership.
Tevez and Messi say they are friends but are different fellows. Messi is quiet, childlike, from a provincial background and has assumed Spanish citizenship. Tevez is a fun-lover from the slum of Ejercito de los Andes in Buenos Aires, dubbed “Fuerte Apache” because of a lawlessness that sees seven in every 10 arrests being for minors carrying guns. Tevez is so fiercely Argentinian that when teammates asked him to wear a Brazil shirt for being the worst trainer at West Ham, he refused. Messi and Tevez shared a room at last year’s Copa America. “The music was louder than at a disco,” a not entirely enthusiastic Messi said.
Tevez’s falling stock at home may further his rise at United. Next season will be the last in his complicated loan deal and Ferguson must make a decision about keeping him — which would involve paying about £20m to his third-party owners. It will help Tevez’s cause that he is not going to the Olympics as one of Argentina’s overage players. “I haven’t spoken to [chief executive] David Gill [about Tevez]. We’re enjoying the fact he’s with us,” said Ferguson, “but I think he will be a United player properly eventually.”
The manager cannot help but feel the breath of destiny upon his neck as he returns to the Nou Camp for the first time since winning the Champions League there with what he regards as his finest side since 1999. He admits watching a video of the 1999 final’s last three minutes now and then and reminisced about the odds stacked against United that night. “I think it’s the widest pitch in Europe. Bayern Munich protested to Uefa and got it narrowed to 76 yards,” he said. “Barcelona always have it at 82 yards. They play with great width and that suits us.”
Ferguson revealed he was interviewed for the job of managing Barça while at Aberdeen. Of their current team he said: “They’re not going through a great spell, Messi’s been out for a few weeks but he’s back and will be the main threat. But I think they’ll miss Carles Puyol, who’s banned, he’s a major influence.” He added: “I have a team in mind I want to use and it could be one player is given an important role.” However, he declined to elaborate. Like the rest of us, he expects goals.
Ferguson spoke fondly about the interaction within his multi-national squad. “It’s fantastic. I’ve got Spanish, Argentinians, Brazilians, Portuguese, French, Serbians and they’re all communicating and laughing and you say to yourself, ‘Why don’t they understand me? They’re going, ‘Carlos [Queiroz, Ferguson's assistant], Carlos. What does the boss say?’ But it doesn’t take them long to know what the manager’s about. I remember a couple of players took my parking space…” Players still at United? “One’s not,” Ferguson growled.
The Tevez success story
— After spells in South America with Boca Juniors and Corinthians, Carlos Tevez – along with fellow Argentina star Javier Mascherano – joined West Ham in 2006. The players were reportedly owned by a ‘third party’, Media Sports Investments and the Hammers were later fined a record £5.5m for breaching Premier League rules over the signings
— With West Ham battling relegation, the 24-year-old scored the goals that kept them in the top flight, including the winner at Manchester United on the last day of the season
— He was linked with several clubs before joining United for £20m last summer. He has scored 17 goals so far this season
— Tevez once went out with Argentine model, Natalia Fassi. He is now married to Vanessa and has a daughter, Florencia
1994: Man Utd’s Nou Camp nightmare
— It was November 2, 1994, Day of the Dead in Spain. Manchester United wore all black and even now the memory of a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona brings a fl ush of red to their cheeks. ‘I’ve tried to forget about that night,’ says Ryan Giggs, ‘so thanks for bringing it up!’
— It won’t be the last time. For two teams so consistently among the last four in the Champions League, United and Barça have met surprisingly seldom. The last time, in the group phase of United’s victorious 1998-99 season, they shared 12 goals over 180 minutes. The occasion before that, 1994-95, had been a rout
— Barcelona had lost in the previous season’s final, walloped 4-0 by AC Milan. United’s visit would release some pent-up hurt. The celebrated strikers, Brazil’s Romario and Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, both had epic nights, Stoichkov scoring twice and Romario also finding the net as well as terrorising Gary Pallister throughout. The fourth came from an unexpected quarter. ‘I didn’t score many,’ recalls full-back Albert Ferrer, below, ‘so that was special. It was the end of an era, the last great performance of the Dream Team.’ That’s the side that, under Johan Cruyff, won the 1992 European Cup
— United were without Eric Cantona serving a ban, and the Dane Peter Schmeichel, above, left out in favour of English goalkeeper Gary Walsh. ‘It was because of Uefa’s four-foreigners-only rule,’ says Giggs. ‘We were understrength and they had a very good team’ n United knew as much as soon as Jordi Cruyff, later to sign for United, squared for Stoichkov to volley in from 12 yards. 1-0
— Stoichkov set up Romario for the second before the Bulgarian added the third after half-time. Ferrer then joined the fiesta rightfl ank run and a rare left-foot pump at goal that came off
— The margin would matter, come the final league table, Barça qualifying for the quarterfi nals ahead of United on goal difference. But United, says Giggs, grew up that night. ‘You learn more. Sometimes defeat can help you improve. We had a lot of young players in the side. Barcelona away? You get beaten 4-0, you’ve got to grow up quick, and you realise that if you don’t perform against these big teams on the big stage you’ll get a doing’
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Jonathan Northcroft
There is nothing like auditioning alongside the cast you hope to join. Sir Alex Ferguson’s practice of signing players who perform memorably against Manchester United is established. The most famous example was Cristiano Ronaldo, bagged after a tour match against Sporting Lisbon in which the skills of the young Portuguese left Gary Neville with corkscrewed synapses, never mind twisted blood. Carlos Tevez also made an impression the first time he faced Ferguson’s team. It was at Old Trafford in August 2002, in a game to highlight Unicef that turned out to be one of the least charitable friendlies ever seen.
Boca Juniors were United’s opponents. Paul Scholes had a bee in his bonnet about something and ran about lopping Boca players with chainsaw tackles. Tevez was only 18 but took it upon himself to sort things out. His method involved applying an elbow to Scholes’s face and a red card was inevitable. You could not help but leave Old Trafford with positive thoughts of Tevez, though. Until his dismissal he had been easily the game’s eye-catching player, putting into it the sweat appropriate for a cup final rather than an exhibition. Ferguson was impressed and began monitoring the Argentinian as he went on to be three-time South American footballer of the year.
Tevez’s drive first endeared him to supporters at West Ham, where he did not score until March but was their player of the season for 2006-07. It aided him after joining United. He had to wait until late September for his first goal — a pivotal one against Chelsea — but had already won approval from teammates, fans and Ferguson, with levels of fighting spirit that matched those of Wayne Rooney. That spirit was in evidence again yesterday when his late header earned United a vital point in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn. Tevez exemplifies what Rafael Benitez says about top footballers of his nationality. “It’s clear that when you have a good Argentinian player it’s really good. They are very competitive and they have South American technique.”
It is perhaps not surprising that despite being dismissed by some, initially, as too similar to Rooney Tevez has emerged as one of the Theatre of Dreams’ lead actors. He has fought for stage space and won it, making nearly as many starts (34) as Rooney (35). Yesterday’s goal, his 18th so far, means he is now outscoring the England man by one. In Europe he has been especially productive, with four strikes in three starts.
“Having Tevez gave us a different way of playing,” said Ferguson. “He’s so busy, and he’s scored four goals which have been among the most important of our season: against Chelsea, in the last minute against Tottenham, at Liverpool and at Lyons.”
The “different way of playing” refers to the flexibility Tevez brings. Like Rooney, he naturally switches between No 9 and No 10, and having two players of that ilk, who can also go wide or drop into midfield, enhances the unpredictability in attack already brought by Ronaldo to dizzying levels. Europe, the first territory where English 4-4-2 died a death — and now it is happening in the Premier League — demands elastic strategies. In 2006, Barcelona had the Ronaldinho-Lionel Messi-Samuel Eto’o axis, with Henrik Larsson waiting to come off the bench. It was impossible to contain them. Only Messi remains in 2006 form, though Eto’o and Ronaldinho can never be discounted, and Barça now add Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic to their mix.
The world will be watching the Nou Camp and Tevez will want to put on a show for viewers in his homeland, especially because he is pitted against Messi. He was billed as the “new Maradona” before Messi relieved him of the title and it is Messi around whom Alfio Basile, the Argentina manager, builds the national team. Tevez, indeed, fears losing his place. Under pressure for not scoring in four internationals, he was sent off for taking off-the-ball retribution against a Colombian in a World Cup qualifier in November and has missed the past two internationals, with teenager Sergio Aguero taking his place. Messi and Aguero are pals and their on-field understanding has been contrasted to the difficulties Messi and Tevez have experienced in forming a partnership.
Tevez and Messi say they are friends but are different fellows. Messi is quiet, childlike, from a provincial background and has assumed Spanish citizenship. Tevez is a fun-lover from the slum of Ejercito de los Andes in Buenos Aires, dubbed “Fuerte Apache” because of a lawlessness that sees seven in every 10 arrests being for minors carrying guns. Tevez is so fiercely Argentinian that when teammates asked him to wear a Brazil shirt for being the worst trainer at West Ham, he refused. Messi and Tevez shared a room at last year’s Copa America. “The music was louder than at a disco,” a not entirely enthusiastic Messi said.
Tevez’s falling stock at home may further his rise at United. Next season will be the last in his complicated loan deal and Ferguson must make a decision about keeping him — which would involve paying about £20m to his third-party owners. It will help Tevez’s cause that he is not going to the Olympics as one of Argentina’s overage players. “I haven’t spoken to [chief executive] David Gill [about Tevez]. We’re enjoying the fact he’s with us,” said Ferguson, “but I think he will be a United player properly eventually.”
The manager cannot help but feel the breath of destiny upon his neck as he returns to the Nou Camp for the first time since winning the Champions League there with what he regards as his finest side since 1999. He admits watching a video of the 1999 final’s last three minutes now and then and reminisced about the odds stacked against United that night. “I think it’s the widest pitch in Europe. Bayern Munich protested to Uefa and got it narrowed to 76 yards,” he said. “Barcelona always have it at 82 yards. They play with great width and that suits us.”
Ferguson revealed he was interviewed for the job of managing Barça while at Aberdeen. Of their current team he said: “They’re not going through a great spell, Messi’s been out for a few weeks but he’s back and will be the main threat. But I think they’ll miss Carles Puyol, who’s banned, he’s a major influence.” He added: “I have a team in mind I want to use and it could be one player is given an important role.” However, he declined to elaborate. Like the rest of us, he expects goals.
Ferguson spoke fondly about the interaction within his multi-national squad. “It’s fantastic. I’ve got Spanish, Argentinians, Brazilians, Portuguese, French, Serbians and they’re all communicating and laughing and you say to yourself, ‘Why don’t they understand me? They’re going, ‘Carlos [Queiroz, Ferguson's assistant], Carlos. What does the boss say?’ But it doesn’t take them long to know what the manager’s about. I remember a couple of players took my parking space…” Players still at United? “One’s not,” Ferguson growled.
The Tevez success story
— After spells in South America with Boca Juniors and Corinthians, Carlos Tevez – along with fellow Argentina star Javier Mascherano – joined West Ham in 2006. The players were reportedly owned by a ‘third party’, Media Sports Investments and the Hammers were later fined a record £5.5m for breaching Premier League rules over the signings
— With West Ham battling relegation, the 24-year-old scored the goals that kept them in the top flight, including the winner at Manchester United on the last day of the season
— He was linked with several clubs before joining United for £20m last summer. He has scored 17 goals so far this season
— Tevez once went out with Argentine model, Natalia Fassi. He is now married to Vanessa and has a daughter, Florencia
1994: Man Utd’s Nou Camp nightmare
— It was November 2, 1994, Day of the Dead in Spain. Manchester United wore all black and even now the memory of a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona brings a fl ush of red to their cheeks. ‘I’ve tried to forget about that night,’ says Ryan Giggs, ‘so thanks for bringing it up!’
— It won’t be the last time. For two teams so consistently among the last four in the Champions League, United and Barça have met surprisingly seldom. The last time, in the group phase of United’s victorious 1998-99 season, they shared 12 goals over 180 minutes. The occasion before that, 1994-95, had been a rout
— Barcelona had lost in the previous season’s final, walloped 4-0 by AC Milan. United’s visit would release some pent-up hurt. The celebrated strikers, Brazil’s Romario and Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, both had epic nights, Stoichkov scoring twice and Romario also finding the net as well as terrorising Gary Pallister throughout. The fourth came from an unexpected quarter. ‘I didn’t score many,’ recalls full-back Albert Ferrer, below, ‘so that was special. It was the end of an era, the last great performance of the Dream Team.’ That’s the side that, under Johan Cruyff, won the 1992 European Cup
— United were without Eric Cantona serving a ban, and the Dane Peter Schmeichel, above, left out in favour of English goalkeeper Gary Walsh. ‘It was because of Uefa’s four-foreigners-only rule,’ says Giggs. ‘We were understrength and they had a very good team’ n United knew as much as soon as Jordi Cruyff, later to sign for United, squared for Stoichkov to volley in from 12 yards. 1-0
— Stoichkov set up Romario for the second before the Bulgarian added the third after half-time. Ferrer then joined the fiesta rightfl ank run and a rare left-foot pump at goal that came off
— The margin would matter, come the final league table, Barça qualifying for the quarterfi nals ahead of United on goal difference. But United, says Giggs, grew up that night. ‘You learn more. Sometimes defeat can help you improve. We had a lot of young players in the side. Barcelona away? You get beaten 4-0, you’ve got to grow up quick, and you realise that if you don’t perform against these big teams on the big stage you’ll get a doing’
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