Carlos Tevez, the Manchester United forward who appears to have the most to lose from the signing of Dimitar Berbatov, has made a candid admission that he is dissatisfied with his level of performance and accepts Sir Alex Ferguson's reasons for shunting him down the pecking order.
Tevez has scored only once for United this season in six starts and a further three substitute appearances, and the Argentina international admitted being perplexed and disappointed by his lack of goals. "I am not as dangerous as I used to be," he said. "I am not as effective in the penalty area any more. That is something I have lost and something I have to get back. I used to score better goals, great goals. But something strange has happened."
It seems a harsh self-assessment given that Tevez was United's player of the month for August, but the 24-year-old did not score in that period and is also in the midst of a dispiritingly barren run for his national team, having failed to find the target in a competitive match since a Copa América tie against the United States 16 months ago and having been sent off twice in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
His record of seven goals in 43 internationals is disappointing, and Argentina's coach, Alfio "Coco" Basile, has already spoken to him about what is going wrong. "Coco has said he wants to see more of the old Carlos," said Tevez. "I have to try to get back to my previous level, and I do have confidence that I will."
Tevez has started only three of the seven games since Berbatov was signed from Tottenham for £30.75m at the end of August and the Argentinian has been left to mull over the possible reasons for the struggles in front of goal that have left him fourth in line to Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I think, firstly, that it might have something to do with the fact that whoever plays up front these days has to do a lot more for the team than just score goals," he said. "They have to play more for the team and I think I have sacrificed myself recently with regards to that." He added: "I also think it is something to do with the quality of [Premier League] defenders. They are strong and big and that makes it difficult for somebody up front."
However, Tevez is eager to secure a long-term contract when his two-year loan arrangement with Media Sports Investment expires next summer.
Meanwhile the Court of Arbitration for Sport has opened proceedings to determine if it can hear West Ham United's appeal against a ruling that could see them pay out millions over Tevez's role in the Hammers' escape from relegation in 2007.
CAS confirmed yesterday afternoon that a statement of appeal had been filed by West Ham, asking the Lausanne court to adjudicate on an independent tribunal's assertion that they should pay compensation to Sheffield United for the Blades' relegation from the Premier League in 2007. The tribunal, convened under Football Association rules last month, found that West Ham gained at least three points thanks to Tevez, whose registration with the club was ruled to have breached third-party ownership rules in April 2007. The tribunal ruled that Sheffield United were due up to £50m in compensation.
