Star players still bigger than the team they serve at Manchester City

Contrast that image with Patrice Evra’s scathing response to Wayne Rooney’s infamous statement, issued prior to Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Bursaspor in October, when the England forward cited the club’s diminishing ambition and weakening squad as justification for his decision to seek a move away from Old Trafford.

Evra spoke of the “hurt” inflicted by Rooney’s astonishing attack on the club before claiming, “If one player does not trust the other players, that player should not play. I am not like that as I trust everyone.”

Therein lies the difference between Manchester City and Manchester United, two clubs with equal ambition and stellar squads capable of delivering the silverware demanded and expected by owners and supporters alike.

When a United player casts his club in a negative light and becomes the enemy within, he is cut loose and castigated. At City, a fog of apathy descends to hide the fractures and the bad apple is allowed straight back into pot.

The lack of condemnation from Tévez’s team-mates following the player’s refusal to follow Roberto Mancini’s instruction and take to the field as a second-half substitute against Bayern was as conspicuous as the Argentine’s defiance. So why the reluctance to speak freely of their displeasure at Tévez’s behaviour?