Tevez ready to tip title race in City’s favour: Toure

Striker likely to start against Sunderland today.

MANCHESTER: Yaya Toure says Carlos Tevez wants to say sorry to Manchester City fans for his behaviour by helping the club secure the title.

Manager Roberto Mancini is considering handing Tevez his first league start for almost seven months when Sunderland visit the Eastlands today. Having spent most of the season at the top of the table, City trail leaders Manchester United by three points with eight games remaining, and have had a week to forget.

The former Manchester United player, who has not started a league game since September, capped an energetic display by finding the net with an ambitious chip from the edge of the box.

“Carlos is our player — everyone can make mistakes, but he is really a good man,” said Ivory Coast international Toure. “It was unbelievable when he came back and the fans gave him big applause. He knew when he came back to the club that he had made a very big mistake, but now everything is over and he is focused on winning the Premier League.”

Arsenal poised for glory, says Gervinho

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Gervinho claims the foundations are in place for the club to win trophies in coming seasons as they attempt to pile on the misery for struggling Queens Park Rangers today.

Arsenal have gone on a winning streak of seven games, which has seen them overtake Tottenham and move into third spot in the Premier League.

While there is no prospect of ending their seven-year wait for a trophy this year – they are 15 points behind leaders Manchester United with eight games to play – their hopes of a Champions League spot are firmly in their own hands. The buoyant mood at the Emirates Stadium is in stark contrast to that at QPR, who are fighting to avoid immediate relegation from the Premier League.

“We can still win lots of trophies and we can do great things in the future,” said the Ivory Coast international.

“We are all still young, we have got some good players here, a good group.”

Gervinho pointed to the superb form of striker Robin van Persie.

Van Persie has scored 33 goals this season, including 25 in the Premier League and Gervinho added, “You can see his class with his finishing, how he leads the group, and with his experience.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2012.