Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini had a blazing row with star striker and captain Carlos Tevez as the uneasy truce between the two men exploded during half-time of the club's 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday.
Mancini and Tevez stood toe-to-toe exchanging verbals as the inquest into a lacklustre first half turned heated in the home dressing room at City's Eastlands stadium.
At one point it looked as though Tevez may even be substituted.
It is understood that the mood turned sour on Sunday when Mancini entered the dressing room after his players and heard Tevez saying something he didn't like.
City's Italian manager then made a comment of his own and Tevez jumped up from his seat to confront him.
Words were exchanged and other members of the team and backroom staff had to intervene.
On Monday City sources were at pains to stress that the incident did not get physical and that it is not expected to threaten Tevez's standing at the club or in Mancini's team.
However, it was intense enough for Mancini to threaten Tevez with substitution and at one point the Argentina international did have his shirt off as though he was preparing for his afternoon to be cut short.
It is understood that, once the situation had been defused, Mancini delivered a rollicking to the rest of the team before spending the last few moments of the interval in his office. Tevez then followed him there and the two men made up privately.
Tevez went on to play a full role in City's second-half performance that saw them edge a narrow win and shook hands with his manager when he was substituted late in the game.
Spot on: Tevez did fire home City's first from the penalty spot against Newcastle
Subsequently Mancini agreed to Tevez's request to take an extra day off after the international break so that he can visit his daughter who is currently in South America.
On Monday night City assistant manager Brian Kidd said: 'There was an awful lot said between the group at half-time but the lads showed a great response in the second half.'
But the incident will bring fresh focus on the nature of Tevez's relationship with his coach. Last season, Tevez was the most outspoken critic of Mancini's controversial double training sessions and chose the eve of a Manchester derby to spell out his reservations and claim that his good form at City had nothing to do with the Italian.
At the end of last season, Tevez and Mancini had a meeting to clear the air and subsequently the City manager surprised everybody by naming him captain.
Certainly, the relationship between the two men had been good enough for Tevez to continue producing his very best football.
Sunday's goal against Newcastle - a first-half penalty - was his fifth of the season.
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And supposedly the other dirty rag has quoted Mancini to have said : 'Go **** your mother', to Tevez and then told him to shut up. Apparently they had to be pulled apart.
Mancini and Tevez stood toe-to-toe exchanging verbals as the inquest into a lacklustre first half turned heated in the home dressing room at City's Eastlands stadium.
At one point it looked as though Tevez may even be substituted.
It is understood that the mood turned sour on Sunday when Mancini entered the dressing room after his players and heard Tevez saying something he didn't like.
City's Italian manager then made a comment of his own and Tevez jumped up from his seat to confront him.
Words were exchanged and other members of the team and backroom staff had to intervene.
On Monday City sources were at pains to stress that the incident did not get physical and that it is not expected to threaten Tevez's standing at the club or in Mancini's team.
However, it was intense enough for Mancini to threaten Tevez with substitution and at one point the Argentina international did have his shirt off as though he was preparing for his afternoon to be cut short.
It is understood that, once the situation had been defused, Mancini delivered a rollicking to the rest of the team before spending the last few moments of the interval in his office. Tevez then followed him there and the two men made up privately.
Tevez went on to play a full role in City's second-half performance that saw them edge a narrow win and shook hands with his manager when he was substituted late in the game.
Spot on: Tevez did fire home City's first from the penalty spot against Newcastle
Subsequently Mancini agreed to Tevez's request to take an extra day off after the international break so that he can visit his daughter who is currently in South America.
On Monday night City assistant manager Brian Kidd said: 'There was an awful lot said between the group at half-time but the lads showed a great response in the second half.'
But the incident will bring fresh focus on the nature of Tevez's relationship with his coach. Last season, Tevez was the most outspoken critic of Mancini's controversial double training sessions and chose the eve of a Manchester derby to spell out his reservations and claim that his good form at City had nothing to do with the Italian.
At the end of last season, Tevez and Mancini had a meeting to clear the air and subsequently the City manager surprised everybody by naming him captain.
Certainly, the relationship between the two men had been good enough for Tevez to continue producing his very best football.
Sunday's goal against Newcastle - a first-half penalty - was his fifth of the season.
daily hate mail
And supposedly the other dirty rag has quoted Mancini to have said : 'Go **** your mother', to Tevez and then told him to shut up. Apparently they had to be pulled apart.
It would be nice to think we had any players or a manager that was bothered enough to have a brawl at half time.
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