Tevez has toiled non-stop to lead City into second place in the Barclays Premier League table but manager Mancini is aware he will need to take a breather if the dynamic striker is to keep up that pace all winter.
The Blues now kick off another demanding three-game spell at Blackpool tomorrow, and City’s boss could rest Captain Carlos for Thursday’s Europa League tie with Lech Poznan before Sunday’s visit by Arsenal.
Mancini said: “I will wait until Sunday morning and then I will speak with Carlos and we will decide. Out of the three games, there will probably be one for which Carlos will stay on the bench, because he needs to recover.”
The Blues boss will also appeal to Argentina coach Sergio Batista to excuse Tevez from the squad he will name next month to play great rivals Brazil in a Doha friendly on November 17, five days before City’s trip to Fulham.
Mancini said: “It’s a problem for Carlos. Argentina don’t play games in Europe, but in Japan, Australia, Brazil ... this makes it difficult for a player. Carlos arrived back on Thursday, tired. He needs to recover.
If Argentina were to leave Carlos here sometimes, it would be better
...Roberto Mancini...
“They have a friendly in November. But I hope that, for that game, Carlos can stay here. It would be better for him and better for his country.”
But Mancini takes with a pinch of salt the recurring theme from Tevez’s exhausting international trips in which the interviewed City striker looks forward to quitting international football or even the game as a whole.
Roberto smiled: “Carlos was born to play football. I don’t know if he will stay here for the next ten years or return to Argentina, but he must play football. I am not worried. I don’t think he will retire now!”
Mario Balotelli’s return, pencilled in for the end of the month, will ease the burden on Tevez, added the boss.
