Manchester United goes into the second leg of the League Cup
semifinals against Manchester City with Wayne Rooney in the sort of
form that helped the team decide to let Carlos Tevez leave.
Tevez has rediscovered the touch that led United to sign him
in 2007 with 17 goals in 26 matches for City this season, including
two in last week's 2-1 first-leg win over his old side.
But Rooney is on course for his most productive season ever,
with his four goals in Saturday's 4-0 win over Hull taking United
back to the top of the Premier League and his total to 20 in 28
matches.
With defending League Cup champion United having beaten City
4-3 at Old Trafford already this season, City and Tevez may not
have everything their own way on Wednesday.
"The game against City will be very hard, but it's great that
we have someone like Wayne who is in good form and feeling
confident," United winger Nani said. "It's great to see one of your
strikers score four goals and it gives everyone confidence because
we know we have someone who can score goals in every match."
The first leg was defined by Tevez's two goals and the
reaction to his celebration in front of the team benches.
Gary Neville reacted with a middle-finger gesture at his
former teammate and Tevez subsequently insulted the United captain
in an Argentine radio interview.
The Football Association warned both players over their
conduct and told the clubs to show restraint in their behavior on
Wednesday, while Tevez's agent, Kia Joorabchian, tried to downplay
the rift.
"If you translate a slang terminology into an actual word, it
may turn out to look like a very bad word," Joorabchian said. "In
reality, it might not be such a bad word."
United was buoyed at the weekend by an unchallenging return
to action after three months out for Rio Ferdinand and the defender
should be there to help monitor Tevez.
But even if United reaches the Feb. 28 final, it will almost
certainly have to deal with the loss of the league lead.
Second-place Arsenal is at Aston Villa on Wednesday, when
third-place Chelsea hosts Birmingham.
The London pair are just two points behind the defending
Premier League champions, but Arsenal has played one game fewer and
Chelsea has two games in hand.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will revert to his regular
lineup for the first of four tough games after fielding largely a
second-string side in Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup loss at Stoke.
"I do not regret the side I put out," said Wenger, whose team
plays Villa, United, Chelsea and Liverpool in consecutive league
fixtures over the next two weeks. "I did not have much choice. We
had 10 injuries and a very difficult program coming up."
Also Wednesday, Wigan is at Blackburn and Sunderland is at
Everton.
In Tuesday's games, Burnley visits Bolton, West Ham is at
Portsmouth, Tottenham hosts Fulham and Liverpool is at
Wolverhampton.
Tottenham may need victory to keep hold of fourth place, with
Liverpool just a point back after beating Spurs 2-0 last week.
