I feel that the media picked and chose what they wanted to translate from the Carlos Tevez interview.
I am not saying he is right and I am not saying he is wrong. I am just saying his interview was compelling, and he made lots of valid and reasonable points.
I think it requires a literall translation for people to get conclusions.
If you hate the guy, read it anyway, as it may explain why he (rightly or wrongly) did what he did.
My position through other blogs I have written is clear, but he deserves to be heard.
Here is the transcript. The journalist interviewing him is called Fernando Niembro, so ahead of his questions I will put FN so you can follow.
FN- Carlos, lets roll the tape backwards. What did really happened? To clarify it to the people in general. You have always said that you did not refuse to play. Exactly what happened?
CT- What I refused was to continue with the warm up, I had already warmed up for part of the first half. We were losing 2-0 to Bayern and around the 35 or 40 minutes (FH) Mancini tells me to start warming up. I went out there and started doing so, together with De Jong. So from that moment until the end of the first half we both warmed up. So at the end of the FH we went inside the dressing room, he gave the HT talk, and then we go out there for the second half. I felt ok as I had warmed up enough, but the Manager sent me to warm up again, which I did. A bit annoyed by now
FN- Surprised
CT- yes, surprised because this was already coming from other games where I warmed up and then did not play, as the Manager said I was not physically ready, and I said I was ready. I was not sure I was not playing. He took the captain armband off me earlier without telling me or explaining why.
FN- without explaining it to you
CT- lots of little things had happened until then so I was a bit annoyed. So as we are still warming up he sends De Jong in for Dzeko. We were losing 2-0. it was a substitution that was…was defensive. I thought it was defensive, so I decided to sit on the bench as i…
FN- you warmed up enough
CT- Yes, I had already warmed up for another 10 minutes, and thought, maybe he is just hoping that they don’t score 4 here (with the defensive change), and only lose 2-0 and game finished.
So then I went and sat down. Dzeko was angry, and started walking towards the dressing room shouting at Mancini. But then he realised that the door to the dressing room was closed, so he needs to come and sit on the bench, and they started arguing. Dzeko shouted in Bosnian, Mancini shouted in Italian. It got messy. I sat down as this was happening so he did not see me. But they kept arguing, and in some point he Mancini turned his head and then he saw me sitting. So imagine, he was angry, and now he saw me, he sent me, like a dog to warm up again. But when he spoke to me like that, I said, no. I am not warming up anymore, that I was ready to play.
FN- that you were willing to play
CT- That if he wanted me to play, I was ready. But he was so annoyed because of the Dzeko argument, he continued it with me, he swore at me, shouted at me, all from his side, because I was honestly relaxed. I sat on the bench, and it is on the video images to be seen that I was relaxed, I was talking to Zabaleta, but the Manager said incredible things to me.
FN- From there there is an accusation from the Manager that you refused to play, but the club opened and investigation, because in England things are not left there to take care of themselves. I mean, if there is a problem, the club gives the right, in this case to you, to defend yourself, which I believe it is very fair. So basically they heard one side of the story, but they gave you the right to put your side across.
CT- Before any sanction against me, the club must investigate. So they opened one and they called us all to declare. Everyone that was on the bench, the coaching team, the players, everyone that was on the bench
FN- even the doctor, I believe declared for the investigation
CT everybody, everybody that was on the bench, to know what it really happened. To be able to make an informed decision. So everyone said their part, Mancini, me, everyone, my colleagues, to tell what had happened. The result of the enquiry is that I never refused to play, but refused to carry on with the warm up.
FN- so this is what everyone that was sitting there said to the club during the investigation.
CT- yes, all of them.
FN- players, the doctor and even the other members of the Management team.
CT- members of the Management team as well. The club decided that for the actions that I took (not continue warming up) I deserved a 2 weeks or 3 weeks wage deduction penalty. That after the …
FN- the PFA intervened
CT- The PFA intervened and said that the penalty is too high, that to them 2 weeks would be the right punishment. The club said ok. But then the next problem is how do I go back into the squad, because the Manager started saying that I was never going to play again for the club.
FN- to him it was a problem because the investigation results basically said he was not truthful, and that was through people that he was in charged of.
CT- Yes, but that part stayed in the club,that was the problem (referring to the fact that the club punished him for his actions, but never backed him up publicly stating that obviously Mancini’s version of what happened has been proven to be inaccurate)
FN that was not public
CT- That was no public. That’s why I got annoyed with the club, and packed up and came back here.
FN- and that makes lots of people in the world, particularly in Manchester, to think a complete different thing.
The investigation’s results saying exactly what you said, must clarify a lot of things to many people.
CT- But it wasn’t that I refused to keep warming up for no reason. My point was I am ready to play.
FN- you had warmed up for a part of both the first and second halves.
CT- That is all there on the videos, all in the videos. If my intention was not to play I wouldn’t have warmed up at all. My anger was when the Manager treated me in a manner than no player should be treated. He was already angry with another player.
FN- so he was already angry and …
CT- ended up bringing it up with me.
FN- so during all this time you received a few offers to play somewhere else.
CT- yes
FN- from Italy, is it true about AC Milan?
CT- it is true
FN- Is it true about Inter?
CT- in some point the Inter thing is true
FN- PSG?
CT- yes, yes.
FN- so the club was also ready to sell you
CT- yes, but the club does not want to lose money
FN- True, I mean it is important for someone who invested on an important player to get a good return on their investment. So as much as you said that you wanted to play somewhere else, the club were also prepared to sell you. You were not there but negotiations took place
CT- but also it was not convenient to the club that I was here, not training, doing nothing, even with a version saying that I was going to retire.
FN- is it true then that you were not training?
CT- off course not, I trained every morning, but one thing is training alone and another training with a squad or with a trainer.
FN- ah, because for someone that looks at you, you look like a guy that is still fit.
CT- yes, I am fine
FN- so, if you arrive in Manchester, which you ll do in the next few hours, and Mancini decides to count on you to play, you in 2 weeks should be ready to play.
CT- I think that in 2 weeks I will be ready to play, yes.
FT- Are you motivated?
CT- yes. Totally motivated.
FN- the other day when you entered the field of play at Boca’s stadium (Palermo’s goodbye game) you wanted to play
CT- yes, but would have been another messy story.
FN- so you were careful about not playing
CT- yes, one has to be careful with many things. Otherwise every 2 days I would get a legal letter through my letter box at home
FN- But you were prudent and decided to keep out of trouble
CT- yes, but imagine, been there and unable to play, brought me many good memories. Seeing my former colleagues again (he names a few of them) the ones that when I moved up from the reserves were the great ones. It was very strong feeling
FN- also the Boca fans showing their affection, chanting your name, Palermo walked towards the stands with you
CT- Yes Martin is a great guy.
FN- so you are saying that this whole mess with Manchester City could have been avoided?
CT- yes. They did not need to do anything. Just leave it there, if they didn’t want me to, they did not need to play me, and keep it between them and I why I was not playing. If the Manager wanted he could have told me privately, that I was not in his plans anymore, and then say to those outside the club that Carlitos was not physically ready, or any other reason and that’s it. Is not as if I was playing anyway, and he had already said he thought I was not ready. So he could have said nothing and maintain the status quo, and not play me, handling the whole situation in a different manner.
There are arguments inside dressing rooms everywhere, that not all journalists know about. In every dressing room
FN- all over the world
CT- all over the world, sometimes they get out to the public and sometimes they don’t. to me the Manager made a mistake, a mistake. Anytime before that there was a problem between us we sorted it inside the dressing room and between us. Once after a game against Newcastle we nearly came to blows, we were pulled apart but nearly ended up physical. The next day we had a chat, and that was it. But in general the relationship between us was a good one. It was not a bad one. We could be arguing now, and having a coffee together a while later, laughing and joking between us
FN- those are working incidents
CT- I think he is a winner, he is a winner
FN- he does not like losing like none of us like to lose
CT- He doesn’t like losing and I am a winner also.
FN- is it going to be hard?
CT- not only for me, also for the fans. Seeing me wearing the shirt again
FN- But only until the first goal
CT- maybe, but the first goal will feel as if it took ages to arrive.
There is much more but mainly to do with his opinion of the EPL of which he says:
a) is the best in the world, and that he enjoys playing in England
b) When he first arrived at West Ham he trained extra in the evening at the gym, because he felt everyone was stronger than him, and that at the slightest of touches he was all over the place
c) The only thing he still doesn’t like is the games over the Christmas and New Year period.
He also talked bout the national team and Messi (playing with Messi is easy, he said)
Generally that is all regarding Manchester City and the incident. Honest views, from an honest guy, who made a big mistake, by not making his points clear at the time.
To the fans, and the rest of the squad I think he owes an apology.
To his Manager? The investigation carried out internally by the club showed that the one who lied about the events was Mancini don't forget.
I am not saying he is right and I am not saying he is wrong. I am just saying his interview was compelling, and he made lots of valid and reasonable points.
I think it requires a literall translation for people to get conclusions.
If you hate the guy, read it anyway, as it may explain why he (rightly or wrongly) did what he did.
My position through other blogs I have written is clear, but he deserves to be heard.
Here is the transcript. The journalist interviewing him is called Fernando Niembro, so ahead of his questions I will put FN so you can follow.
FN- Carlos, lets roll the tape backwards. What did really happened? To clarify it to the people in general. You have always said that you did not refuse to play. Exactly what happened?
CT- What I refused was to continue with the warm up, I had already warmed up for part of the first half. We were losing 2-0 to Bayern and around the 35 or 40 minutes (FH) Mancini tells me to start warming up. I went out there and started doing so, together with De Jong. So from that moment until the end of the first half we both warmed up. So at the end of the FH we went inside the dressing room, he gave the HT talk, and then we go out there for the second half. I felt ok as I had warmed up enough, but the Manager sent me to warm up again, which I did. A bit annoyed by now
FN- Surprised
CT- yes, surprised because this was already coming from other games where I warmed up and then did not play, as the Manager said I was not physically ready, and I said I was ready. I was not sure I was not playing. He took the captain armband off me earlier without telling me or explaining why.
FN- without explaining it to you
CT- lots of little things had happened until then so I was a bit annoyed. So as we are still warming up he sends De Jong in for Dzeko. We were losing 2-0. it was a substitution that was…was defensive. I thought it was defensive, so I decided to sit on the bench as i…
FN- you warmed up enough
CT- Yes, I had already warmed up for another 10 minutes, and thought, maybe he is just hoping that they don’t score 4 here (with the defensive change), and only lose 2-0 and game finished.
So then I went and sat down. Dzeko was angry, and started walking towards the dressing room shouting at Mancini. But then he realised that the door to the dressing room was closed, so he needs to come and sit on the bench, and they started arguing. Dzeko shouted in Bosnian, Mancini shouted in Italian. It got messy. I sat down as this was happening so he did not see me. But they kept arguing, and in some point he Mancini turned his head and then he saw me sitting. So imagine, he was angry, and now he saw me, he sent me, like a dog to warm up again. But when he spoke to me like that, I said, no. I am not warming up anymore, that I was ready to play.
FN- that you were willing to play
CT- That if he wanted me to play, I was ready. But he was so annoyed because of the Dzeko argument, he continued it with me, he swore at me, shouted at me, all from his side, because I was honestly relaxed. I sat on the bench, and it is on the video images to be seen that I was relaxed, I was talking to Zabaleta, but the Manager said incredible things to me.
FN- From there there is an accusation from the Manager that you refused to play, but the club opened and investigation, because in England things are not left there to take care of themselves. I mean, if there is a problem, the club gives the right, in this case to you, to defend yourself, which I believe it is very fair. So basically they heard one side of the story, but they gave you the right to put your side across.
CT- Before any sanction against me, the club must investigate. So they opened one and they called us all to declare. Everyone that was on the bench, the coaching team, the players, everyone that was on the bench
FN- even the doctor, I believe declared for the investigation
CT everybody, everybody that was on the bench, to know what it really happened. To be able to make an informed decision. So everyone said their part, Mancini, me, everyone, my colleagues, to tell what had happened. The result of the enquiry is that I never refused to play, but refused to carry on with the warm up.
FN- so this is what everyone that was sitting there said to the club during the investigation.
CT- yes, all of them.
FN- players, the doctor and even the other members of the Management team.
CT- members of the Management team as well. The club decided that for the actions that I took (not continue warming up) I deserved a 2 weeks or 3 weeks wage deduction penalty. That after the …
FN- the PFA intervened
CT- The PFA intervened and said that the penalty is too high, that to them 2 weeks would be the right punishment. The club said ok. But then the next problem is how do I go back into the squad, because the Manager started saying that I was never going to play again for the club.
FN- to him it was a problem because the investigation results basically said he was not truthful, and that was through people that he was in charged of.
CT- Yes, but that part stayed in the club,that was the problem (referring to the fact that the club punished him for his actions, but never backed him up publicly stating that obviously Mancini’s version of what happened has been proven to be inaccurate)
FN that was not public
CT- That was no public. That’s why I got annoyed with the club, and packed up and came back here.
FN- and that makes lots of people in the world, particularly in Manchester, to think a complete different thing.
The investigation’s results saying exactly what you said, must clarify a lot of things to many people.
CT- But it wasn’t that I refused to keep warming up for no reason. My point was I am ready to play.
FN- you had warmed up for a part of both the first and second halves.
CT- That is all there on the videos, all in the videos. If my intention was not to play I wouldn’t have warmed up at all. My anger was when the Manager treated me in a manner than no player should be treated. He was already angry with another player.
FN- so he was already angry and …
CT- ended up bringing it up with me.
FN- so during all this time you received a few offers to play somewhere else.
CT- yes
FN- from Italy, is it true about AC Milan?
CT- it is true
FN- Is it true about Inter?
CT- in some point the Inter thing is true
FN- PSG?
CT- yes, yes.
FN- so the club was also ready to sell you
CT- yes, but the club does not want to lose money
FN- True, I mean it is important for someone who invested on an important player to get a good return on their investment. So as much as you said that you wanted to play somewhere else, the club were also prepared to sell you. You were not there but negotiations took place
CT- but also it was not convenient to the club that I was here, not training, doing nothing, even with a version saying that I was going to retire.
FN- is it true then that you were not training?
CT- off course not, I trained every morning, but one thing is training alone and another training with a squad or with a trainer.
FN- ah, because for someone that looks at you, you look like a guy that is still fit.
CT- yes, I am fine
FN- so, if you arrive in Manchester, which you ll do in the next few hours, and Mancini decides to count on you to play, you in 2 weeks should be ready to play.
CT- I think that in 2 weeks I will be ready to play, yes.
FT- Are you motivated?
CT- yes. Totally motivated.
FN- the other day when you entered the field of play at Boca’s stadium (Palermo’s goodbye game) you wanted to play
CT- yes, but would have been another messy story.
FN- so you were careful about not playing
CT- yes, one has to be careful with many things. Otherwise every 2 days I would get a legal letter through my letter box at home
FN- But you were prudent and decided to keep out of trouble
CT- yes, but imagine, been there and unable to play, brought me many good memories. Seeing my former colleagues again (he names a few of them) the ones that when I moved up from the reserves were the great ones. It was very strong feeling
FN- also the Boca fans showing their affection, chanting your name, Palermo walked towards the stands with you
CT- Yes Martin is a great guy.
FN- so you are saying that this whole mess with Manchester City could have been avoided?
CT- yes. They did not need to do anything. Just leave it there, if they didn’t want me to, they did not need to play me, and keep it between them and I why I was not playing. If the Manager wanted he could have told me privately, that I was not in his plans anymore, and then say to those outside the club that Carlitos was not physically ready, or any other reason and that’s it. Is not as if I was playing anyway, and he had already said he thought I was not ready. So he could have said nothing and maintain the status quo, and not play me, handling the whole situation in a different manner.
There are arguments inside dressing rooms everywhere, that not all journalists know about. In every dressing room
FN- all over the world
CT- all over the world, sometimes they get out to the public and sometimes they don’t. to me the Manager made a mistake, a mistake. Anytime before that there was a problem between us we sorted it inside the dressing room and between us. Once after a game against Newcastle we nearly came to blows, we were pulled apart but nearly ended up physical. The next day we had a chat, and that was it. But in general the relationship between us was a good one. It was not a bad one. We could be arguing now, and having a coffee together a while later, laughing and joking between us
FN- those are working incidents
CT- I think he is a winner, he is a winner
FN- he does not like losing like none of us like to lose
CT- He doesn’t like losing and I am a winner also.
FN- is it going to be hard?
CT- not only for me, also for the fans. Seeing me wearing the shirt again
FN- But only until the first goal
CT- maybe, but the first goal will feel as if it took ages to arrive.
There is much more but mainly to do with his opinion of the EPL of which he says:
a) is the best in the world, and that he enjoys playing in England
b) When he first arrived at West Ham he trained extra in the evening at the gym, because he felt everyone was stronger than him, and that at the slightest of touches he was all over the place
c) The only thing he still doesn’t like is the games over the Christmas and New Year period.
He also talked bout the national team and Messi (playing with Messi is easy, he said)
Generally that is all regarding Manchester City and the incident. Honest views, from an honest guy, who made a big mistake, by not making his points clear at the time.
To the fans, and the rest of the squad I think he owes an apology.
To his Manager? The investigation carried out internally by the club showed that the one who lied about the events was Mancini don't forget.