City should focus on trophies not baiting United, says Tevez

Carlos Tevez wants to "wind up" Sir Alex Ferguson in the best manner possible – by winning trophies for Manchester City.

There does appear to have been a conscious effort by both clubs not to exacerbate the rivalry that undoubtedly exists amongst supporters. Only last week, senior figures within the city's football community spoke encouragingly of the manner in which both clubs had come together to back Manchester's part in an ultimately doomed World Cup bid.

In the build-up to the last derby meeting in November, neither Ferguson nor Roberto Mancini said anything inflammatory, with both emphasising their respect for each other. For supporters it is somewhat different, especially from the blue half of the city who have been forced to endure countless United triumphs since they last won any meaningful silverware in 1976.

As the most recent – and most high-profile – player to switch between the clubs, Tevez's name has been used both in official and unofficial capacities since the summer of 2009 as confirmation of City's growing influence and huge wealth.

The 26-year-old understands why this happens. But he would prefer City to concentrate their energies on ending that long trophy drought rather than continually bellowing the "Fergie, Fergie, sign him up" chant City fans use to bait their United counterparts in recognition of the Old Trafford demand for Tevez to remain.

"The thing that would wind up Sir Alex more than anything is for us to win something and really start achieving things," Tevez told Manc, the official Manchester City magazine. "It is not the song that needs to change; it's the attitude or mindset of our fans.

"Let's not be thinking about Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, we need to think of City and what we can do. What we have got to do is not to devote any of our time to United and just focus on ourselves."

Meanwhile, Aleksander Kolarov has vowed to hit the ground running when he returns from suspension against Juventus next week.

The City manager Mancini was unhappy with the red card Kolarov picked up against Bolton at the weekend and the Serbian shares his his view that his tackle on Mark Davies did not warrant a second booking.

But Kolarov is glad he kept quiet instead of reacting to the perceived injustice and while he is disappointed to miss Saturday's trip to West Ham United, he cannot wait for the Europa League encounter in Turin on Thursday, even though City have already booked their place in the last 32.