Amid the confusion of his ‘ownership’ and Sir Alex Ferguson’s ill-concealed disdain for his agent, Carlos Tevez has burst back to the forefront of red consciences with a string of performances that have re-invigorated United’s historic assault on the top prizes and saved his Old Trafford career.
For the most part Tevez has cut a frustrated figure this season – relegated to playing with the League and FA Cup squads. His limited ‘game time’ in the league and Europe has been the subject of many a column. Safe to say he hasn’t looked a happy bunny for the most part and, had United sailed serenley toward no.18 in the manner expected by most in mid-March, his time on the bench would almost certainly have meant a sad end to a brief United career.
Fortunately for Tev, two defeats in a row and the onset of title jitters set in at Old Trafford. Late comeback wins against Villa and Sunderland were inspired by Ronaldo and Macheda but it was at half-time in the Spurs game on April 25th that Carlitos was given the chance to prove his true worth.
The scenario is familiar now – United looked down and out. Spurs had built a two goal lead and Modric and Lennon were tearing United’s backline to pieces. Most managers would have stuck on an extra defender or defensive midfielder to stop the bleeding. Ferguson opted instead to play his four best attackers and go for broke.
Tevez’s impact was instant – with him came the energy, goal threat, telepathic understanding and movement lacking in the first half. He even managed to arouse Berbatov from a season long slumber that had reached its nadir against Everton in the penalty shoot-out the previous Sunday. The result was a 22 minute, five goal burst of scoring that left their opponents breathless, their critics reaching for superlatives and Scousers suicidal. The Webb controversy was a red herring, I have little doubt United would have turned that game around anyway as Tevez introduction gave his fellow forwards space to play.
Ever since, the Four Musketeers have been Fergie’s Get Out of Jail Free Card. In Ronaldo United possess the world’s best finisher – there’s no question about that. In Berbatov one of the best first touches to ever grace the game and a subtle intelligence that is only just beginning to be understood. In Rooney they have a player who seems capable of just about anything, including putting team responsibility above personal glory.
Yet Tevez is perhaps the most vital member of the quartet – he brings an intensity and electricity that Berbatov lacks, he is given the licence to take up ‘fox in the box’ positions that Ronaldo’s game forbids and he is able to maintain a position in the penalty area while Rooney is forced to track back. Between those four Fergie seems to have all bases covered.
This fact won’t be lost on a manager who has occasionally spent money on ‘luxury’ players but his quest for footballing perfection might be at hand. Sir Alex was a neutral spectator when Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in Glasgow to claim the 1960 European Cup. He has said that the football he saw that night inspired him. Perhaps, in Tevez, Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov he now has the forward line to match the legendary di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Del Sol one that dominated European football almost 50 years ago.
There had been complaints, before that Spurs game, about United’s cautious and efficient brand of football. The various crises that have seen Tevez shine during the run-in have brought that team back – the team we all adore. Surely, having proven his worth, Ferguson will be all the more reluctant to break up such a powerful collective.
If we do nothing more than secure Tevez and repel advances for Ronaldo this summer I, for one, will be delighted.
