Great interview with Carlos Tevez in the Daily Mail by Lee Clayton. I mean it is pro United muck raking at its finest, but you've still got to get the interview rather than the usual pro United anti City fare in the media that has little to do with fact. There's lots of hand wringing going on which leaves just one response...

And?

Seriously what's the big deal? Tevez gave a candid interview where he expressed his opinions about hot button issues. Good for him. We all bemoan the monotone banality of the average player in the game or have to sit through yet another no show from Old Purple Nose. Finally a player actually expresses an opinion and apparently the sky is falling.

I'm so sick of talking heads on the box. To paraphrase and update Jasper Carrott's line when he was commenting on such drivel "I was up the Villa today and John Carew hit a shot. If it had gone in it would have been a goal."

Let's look at the specifics of the interview which seems to boil down to three main points.

First that Tevez disagrees with the circumstances of the Mark Hughes departure. I was one of the former manager's more ardent critics and even I felt that he was treated poorly at best and disgracefully at worst. That one of the players might agree with this assessment is hardly a surprise given the reports of a player delegation to the board immediately after the decision. Nor is it a surprise that one of those players might have been Tevez. Frankly I'd be more surprised if Tevez had said he was happy with the decision.

Second, Tevez wasn't all that pleased with the Welcome to Manchester poster. I must admit I kind of liked the tweaking of United in the context of that particular time and place. City weren't on United's radar and to me that was the start of the process that ended with the fabulous Carling Cup Semi Final where United now well and truly understand that City are capable of being a legitimate rival for years to come. A short eight months later and I wouldn't do that poster as there is no need or context. That Tevez thought it was inappropriate isn't unreasonable. There are plenty of commentators about who agree with him.

Lastly Tevez thinks that training is too hard and has a moan about it. Newsflash this just in. It's quite probable that every footballer thinks there's too much training at this time of year as the season winds down. Again would we believe the Argentinean striker if he said he was delighted with all the work they do in practice?

Which leaves only the timing. It wouldn't have got much attention if the piece had run before the game against Scunthorpe in the Cup. Of course it's going to get run before the derby against United. Sells more newspapers. Should Tevez have displayed a little bit of caution and not given such an interview? Maybe, as evidenced by the attention the interview is receiving, but from a practical standpoint where's the harm? There's no wind up of United players, no knocks on United management, nothing for Ferguson to use in any way as a motivation tool even if professional players needed such a thing.

Carlos Tevez was asked a series of questions and he answered them. That those answers actually had substance is the surprise not what he said. The sensible thing to do is give kudos to Clayton and the Mail for an excellent "get" and look forward to the game.