Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez has blamed Sir Alex Ferguson for his lack of goals, insisting he has been forced to sacrifice his own attacking instincts for the team's sake...
United's unconventional forward-line has been discussed to no end by the media over the past few seasons, with particular emphasis placed on the individual roles of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez.
The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov during the summer has thrown a spanner in the works, as the Bulgarian striker - who forged a famous partnership with Robbie Keane at Tottenham Hotspur - has straightened up the Red Devils' attack and is quickly establishing himself in the first team.
That - as well as Ronaldo's return from injury - means Tevez, who was regularly deployed as a No. 9 last term and scored 19 goals, has taken a back seat in recent weeks, whether on the pitch or the pine.
The Argentine international has found the net just once this season, and he believes Ferguson's tactical shift is the culprit.
“I’m not as effective in the area any more. The person up front has to do a lot more for the team than score goals,” Tevez told The Sun.
“They have to play more for the team and I think I’ve sacrificed myself recently.
“I’m not as dangerous. That is something I’ve lost. I have to get that back. I used to score great goals.
“But something strange happened.”
Tevez's comments could have severe repercussions for his prospects at Old Trafford, especially given the uncertainty surrounding his contract.
United's unconventional forward-line has been discussed to no end by the media over the past few seasons, with particular emphasis placed on the individual roles of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez.
The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov during the summer has thrown a spanner in the works, as the Bulgarian striker - who forged a famous partnership with Robbie Keane at Tottenham Hotspur - has straightened up the Red Devils' attack and is quickly establishing himself in the first team.
That - as well as Ronaldo's return from injury - means Tevez, who was regularly deployed as a No. 9 last term and scored 19 goals, has taken a back seat in recent weeks, whether on the pitch or the pine.
The Argentine international has found the net just once this season, and he believes Ferguson's tactical shift is the culprit.
“I’m not as effective in the area any more. The person up front has to do a lot more for the team than score goals,” Tevez told The Sun.
“They have to play more for the team and I think I’ve sacrificed myself recently.
“I’m not as dangerous. That is something I’ve lost. I have to get that back. I used to score great goals.
“But something strange happened.”
Tevez's comments could have severe repercussions for his prospects at Old Trafford, especially given the uncertainty surrounding his contract.
