Tevez scored the stylish opening goal of the 2-0 victory then set up midfielder Yaya Toure for the Blues’ second to confirm City’s second away win in three days after the Salzburg celebrations.
It was also the first time City had ever won at the DW Stadium - an achievement that did not escape the near-5,000 travelling Blues army who gave Tevez a huge ovation when he was replaced late in the game.
Mancini said: “I am very happy for Carlos. It was an important goal for him to score. He probably hasn’t been in 100 per cent form - he didn’t work for one month after the World Cup - but this goal will help.
It was a fantastic goal, and I think it is good for him to be captain, and also good for the team
“But if we want to win something, we must also understand we have to learn to play without Carlos and without Yaya, and be a team who can win without these players, because we play every few days and this is very difficult.
“And we must keep improving. But today we played well on a difficult pitch - Wigan have a fantastic manager and play football very well, and we were coming from the Europa League game so it was very difficult for us.
“I’m happy for the team and for our supporters, who are always behind us and were great today. Their support is very important to us, especially on days like this.”
Mancini is planning to make changes for the midweek Carling Cup tie at West Brom, one of which could be the inclusion of Shay Given, once more on the bench at Wigan following Joe Hart’s promotion to No.1.
The Blues boss said: “For us, every competition is important, and in the Carling Cup we must change some players, because everybody cannot play every three days.”
