Manchester United have more to lose than City do with Tevez coming back
because Ferguson will know full well that he is the sort of player who can
turn tight games in his side's favour If he wasn't worried about City, would
he even be talking about them?
Already, we have seen how Tevez set up the winner for Samir Nasri in City's 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday at a time when they needed a spark.
You don't cut off your nose to spite your face and when you've a good player like Tevez you'd be crazy not to use him.
OK, Roberto Mancini had to be careful not to lose face in a situation where he had said Tevez would never play for the club again after he had refused to go on as a substitute.
But once Tevez apologised why wouldn't you bring him back? Ferguson is wrong, it's not desperation, just common sense.
Does he believe that Tevez should really never play for City again just because Mancini said he wouldn't after he refused to go on the pitch at Bayern Munich?
Ferguson has been around long enough to know things change and if you're going to apply those high standards then you had better make sure you are consistent.
Remember it was only last September that Paul Scholes revealed that he had refused to play for United in a League Cup tie against Arsenal in 2001.
There was no question at the time of Scholesy's United career being over even though he later admitted that what he had done was as bad — if not worse — than Tevez's actions.
You have to move on in football. Things happen in the heat of the moment but if people are calm and reasonable they can be worked out.
It might have suited United if Tevez didn't play for City for the rest of the season because he is a talent who increases their attacking options.
And Ferguson will be fully aware of Tevez's capabilities having worked with him at United.
He might have allowed him to leave Old Trafford but that doesn't mean he didn't rate him as a player.
He wouldn't have appreciated his carry-on when he tried to put pressure on him to give him a new contract but he will be aware of what an asset is he is on the pitch.
The fact that he made such a quick impact on his return to the fold will quell any discontent the City fans might feel about his behaviour and he has a role to play in the run-in.
He might not start but he doesn't need to because he reminds me of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his ability to get up to speed in a game almost as soon as he came on.
Remember that was his first game in five months and he still made his mark. Adrenaline could carry him through until the end of the season even if his fitness is not completely up to the mark.
The only reason Ferguson felt the need to have a pop at Tevez was because the mind games have started, the sure sign a title race has entered the title straight.
Once Patrick Vieira said bringing back Scholes was an act of desperation, he was always going to react.
That's what he does, defend his club and his players. I think he gets a buzz off it.
Some sports people like Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt thrive off being in the headlines and creating them and I think Ferguson is the same.
In years gone by, we've seen him lock horns with Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle but this is a different ball game because the challenge is right on his doorstep.
He tried to put them down as 'noisy neighbours' before but City have kept coming and got stronger and stronger.
United feel threatened, there's no doubt about that.
In the past, Ferguson has got into rows with Arsene Wenger, Rafa Benitez and Kevin Keegan but the key is that his side have always been able to back him up.
United have walked the walk after he talked the talk so he hasn't been left
with egg on his face.
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That's not to mention the fans whose opposition was so aggressive that he had hired a bodyguard.
Things have improved a bit in the meantime.
A run of five wins and three draws in 12 games has seen them climb off the foot of the table to 16th.
They are a full five points clear of the relegation zone and seem to have a bit of momentum that other sides have lacked. That is despite having to work under difficult circumstances.
His best player, Chris Samba, decided he did not want to play and was sold to Russian side Anzi after the English transfer window shut.
But can we actually say he is doing well just because they are no longer in the bottom three?
To me, it looks like Kean might be helped by the fact that other sides are not as competitive as in previous years.
Wolves and Wigan have taken just 22 points and Bolton only a point more. At the same stage last season, the bottom three — Wigan, Wolves and West Ham — had 27, 29 and 31 points respectively.
It is more a case of them not doing as badly as other teams.
And because he started off with people having such a low opinion of him, it seems like he is a no-lose situation.
If Blackburn do badly, people did not expect anything else and if they do OK, it's a bonus.
Still, not many would have expected him to turn it around as he has, so all credit to him for that.
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Already, we have seen how Tevez set up the winner for Samir Nasri in City's 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday at a time when they needed a spark.
You don't cut off your nose to spite your face and when you've a good player like Tevez you'd be crazy not to use him.
OK, Roberto Mancini had to be careful not to lose face in a situation where he had said Tevez would never play for the club again after he had refused to go on as a substitute.
But once Tevez apologised why wouldn't you bring him back? Ferguson is wrong, it's not desperation, just common sense.
Does he believe that Tevez should really never play for City again just because Mancini said he wouldn't after he refused to go on the pitch at Bayern Munich?
Ferguson has been around long enough to know things change and if you're going to apply those high standards then you had better make sure you are consistent.
Remember it was only last September that Paul Scholes revealed that he had refused to play for United in a League Cup tie against Arsenal in 2001.
There was no question at the time of Scholesy's United career being over even though he later admitted that what he had done was as bad — if not worse — than Tevez's actions.
You have to move on in football. Things happen in the heat of the moment but if people are calm and reasonable they can be worked out.
It might have suited United if Tevez didn't play for City for the rest of the season because he is a talent who increases their attacking options.
And Ferguson will be fully aware of Tevez's capabilities having worked with him at United.
He might have allowed him to leave Old Trafford but that doesn't mean he didn't rate him as a player.
He wouldn't have appreciated his carry-on when he tried to put pressure on him to give him a new contract but he will be aware of what an asset is he is on the pitch.
The fact that he made such a quick impact on his return to the fold will quell any discontent the City fans might feel about his behaviour and he has a role to play in the run-in.
He might not start but he doesn't need to because he reminds me of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his ability to get up to speed in a game almost as soon as he came on.
Remember that was his first game in five months and he still made his mark. Adrenaline could carry him through until the end of the season even if his fitness is not completely up to the mark.
The only reason Ferguson felt the need to have a pop at Tevez was because the mind games have started, the sure sign a title race has entered the title straight.
Once Patrick Vieira said bringing back Scholes was an act of desperation, he was always going to react.
That's what he does, defend his club and his players. I think he gets a buzz off it.
Some sports people like Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt thrive off being in the headlines and creating them and I think Ferguson is the same.
In years gone by, we've seen him lock horns with Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle but this is a different ball game because the challenge is right on his doorstep.
He tried to put them down as 'noisy neighbours' before but City have kept coming and got stronger and stronger.
United feel threatened, there's no doubt about that.
In the past, Ferguson has got into rows with Arsene Wenger, Rafa Benitez and Kevin Keegan but the key is that his side have always been able to back him up.
Don't be so Kean
STEVE KEAN is getting a lot of plaudits right now — and, on the face of it, things have taken a turn for the better at Blackburn Rovers.
Three months ago, Blackburn were rooted to the foot of the table and the local paper and MP had both called on him to quit.That's not to mention the fans whose opposition was so aggressive that he had hired a bodyguard.
Things have improved a bit in the meantime.
A run of five wins and three draws in 12 games has seen them climb off the foot of the table to 16th.
They are a full five points clear of the relegation zone and seem to have a bit of momentum that other sides have lacked. That is despite having to work under difficult circumstances.
His best player, Chris Samba, decided he did not want to play and was sold to Russian side Anzi after the English transfer window shut.
But can we actually say he is doing well just because they are no longer in the bottom three?
To me, it looks like Kean might be helped by the fact that other sides are not as competitive as in previous years.
Wolves and Wigan have taken just 22 points and Bolton only a point more. At the same stage last season, the bottom three — Wigan, Wolves and West Ham — had 27, 29 and 31 points respectively.
It is more a case of them not doing as badly as other teams.
And because he started off with people having such a low opinion of him, it seems like he is a no-lose situation.
If Blackburn do badly, people did not expect anything else and if they do OK, it's a bonus.
Still, not many would have expected him to turn it around as he has, so all credit to him for that.
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