Roberto Mancini believes he treated Carlos Tevez ‘too well’

MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed Carlos Tevez’s claim that he treated the player “like a dog”.The striker made the remark in an Argentinian television interview earlier this week when discussing events on the bench during the infamous Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September.

Tevez was accused of refusing to warm up that night and Mancini later said the 28-year-old was “finished” at City as a result.

Tevez returned to Manchester on Tuesday in the hope of resuming his career after spending more than three months back in Argentina without the club’s permission.

Mancini was asked about the situation tonight as he gave a press conference in Portugal to preview tonight’s Europa League tie at Porto.

The Italian said: “I don’t want to answer your question because the game is more important than this.

“But I answer only this question and then after, no more, because we have this game. It is an important game against a top club like Porto.

“I totally disagree with Carlos, what he said, because I have never treated him badly.

“Maybe it is the opposite, I treated him too well, always.”

Mancini then broke away slightly as he continued his answer, but made clear he does not want the continuing Tevez saga to affect his team’s push for the Barclays Premier League title.

He said: “And I never said to him, like...finished.

“This is the last question I answer in the next three months. I don’t want to talk anymore.”As well as Mario Balotelli, who has just completed his four-match domestic suspension, Mancini can also welcome back their inspirational midfielder Yaya Toure after an absence of eight games due to the African Nations Cup.

City, who have dropped into the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League in December, face a Porto team boasting a formidable record.

The Portuguese champions and last season’s Europa League winners - also coming in from the Champions League - have lost just once in their domestic competition this season.