The Argentinian defender wants to finish the season in style after finding himself on an emotional roller-coaster. His father Jorge Ruben Zabaleta faces another two months having specialist treatment following a serious car crash. Pablo feared the worst and was given compassionate leave by the club to go home and see his family. Now Jorge appears to be on the mend and his son aims to give him a tonic on two fronts by helping City qualify for the Champions League for the first time and win the FA Cup. Pablo returned in time to take part in the semi-final victory against Manchester United and that gave his dad a huge boost. He said: "My brother told me he saw the game on TV. When we won he was very happy and had a smile on his face. Maybe that will make his recovery much better. "He has gone to a neurology unit now. It was a bad crash and he was in a coma for three weeks. Obviously it was a difficult time for me. "I went back to Argentina to support my family, my brothers, but when he started to get better I decided to come back to be with the team. "It was a difficult decision, but this is my career and we are in a great moment so I wanted to be here for the final. "My father can't talk very well at the moment but I am sure he will think I have to be here. "I am sure he would say to me, if he could, 'go back to Manchester and carry on with your job'." Zabaleta was the victim of a crude challenge from Paul Scholes in the semi-final which saw the veteran midfielder sent off. However, he does not hold any grudges. Speaking about the incident for the first time, Zabaleta said: "I know Scholesy, he is a great player, Sometimes in a semi-final or in games like that anyone can lose their head. "I don't know him as a person but he looks very quiet. As a player I have a lot of respect for him." Club captain Carlos Tevez will sit out the match against West Ham on Sunday as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Manager Roberto Mancini hopes the striker will return to face Tottenham on May 10, four days before the final against Stoke, and Zabaleta would not be surprised to see his fellow countryman come back ahead of schedule. He said: "I saw him on Wednesday and he was very happy. He is doing everything to try to return as early as possible. "Everyone knows Carlos as a character, as a player. He wants to play in every game. It is the first time in ages he has been injured. I don't remember him having an injury like this. "We want him fit for the final as he is a great player for us and has had a great season. He is also our captain and important for us." Pablo Zabaleta was speaking at the launch of the partnership between Manchester City and Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust to create multi-sport facilities at the new Manchester Tennis and Football Centre.
