City get a wake up call

Football’s tales of the unexpected are many and now there is the curious case of Carlos Tévez, the striker who went on strike. To misquote one of his former managers: footballers, bloody hell.

For Manchester City, moralising about millionaires withdrawing their services can occupy the minds and soap-boxes of others. In a time of recession, on a day when thousands of workers were thrown into the dole queue, Tévez’s arrogance was as damaging to his profession as to him personally.

The world can judge Tévez’s actions and motives. City must live in the real world, making swift decisions to bring stability to the dressing room, ensuring that a hitherto bright start to the season does not get clouded by the cordite trailing a rich refusenik in Baveria.

Roberto Mancini stated that Tévez’s career at the club is over. City can move on, building around Sergio Agüero and David Silva as their great creators, but they need Tévez out of the building.

Easier said than done. Mancini, Brian Marwood and Sheikh Mansour need a conference call this morning to devise their Tévez exit strategy. It is time for the club to be strong, to stand up to such millionaire militants. Football, let alone embarrassed City fans, will thank them.