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Agent Kia Joorabchian insists Carlos Tevez is not bitter towards
Manchester United, but says Gary Neville showed a lack of "respect
and class".
The Carling Cup semi-final firlst leg which City won 2-1 last
Tuesday saw Tevez and United substitute Neville exchange gestures
and later Tevez called his former team-mate "a moron" and "a
bootlicker".
Joorabchian admits the frosty relations between the two,
sparked when Neville insisted United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was
right not to keep Tevez at Old Trafford, could spill over into
Wednesday's encounter.
Joorabchian, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek
programme, said: "Carlos played two years at Manchester United and
he has very good relationships with a lot of the players. He
admires and likes Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs and
he considers a lot of them friends of his.
"I don't think he will expect to have any atmosphere in
relation to the players. But I guess he and Gary Neville are not
going to be very good friends any time shortly."
Joorabchian - who also tried to claim Tevez's words towards
Neville had been lost in translation - insisted that the striker is
not bitter at leaving Old Trafford and his dispute is with Neville
alone.
Joorabchian said: "If you don't have respect and class you
have to accept that they are entitled to say something back. Gary
Neville stepped into something that maybe he shouldn't have done
and since he didn't have that respect Carlos felt he had to answer.
"I don't think he (Tevez) has ever been bitter to Manchester
United.
"I don't think Carlos came anywhere near hitting his peak at
Manchester United. In the next three or four years he has a lot
more to offer."
The player's advisor also believes the spat with Neville has
only increased the anticipation around the match
He said: "When I went to the City match I saw an atmosphere
which was absolutely unbelievable, a great vibe, so much passion in
it.
"This little bitter matter has done nothing but improve this
passion and it will give us an even greater build-up and a greater
excitement."
The animosity between the derby rivals has seen police step
up security for Wednesday's second leg.
An extra 75 police than normal will be on duty and spot
checks will be made at pubs around the ground in what is described
as "the highest risk" game at Old Trafford this season.
Police made 18 arrests at last week's match and expect to
make more before Wednesday's return after viewing video cameras.
And Ian Hopkins, assistant chief constable of Greater
Manchester police, revealed talks would take place on Monday with
United and City officials and the Football Association in a bid to
prevent any trouble.
Hopkins admitted he would also be reminding the players they
had a responsibility not to provoke trouble.
He told Sportsweek: "I will be meeting with both the clubs
again along with the FA tomorrow to discuss the general crowd
behaviour and making sure that they understand their responsibility
not to do anything that's likely to incite the crowd.
"We will be making the points very strongly that the players
are professionals, they need to recognise the impact they can have
on the crowd and it's going to be really passionate again on
Wednesday. There's a lot at stake for both teams and for the fans."
