Roberto Mancini - ' I c/s Rio'

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Rio Ferdinand has accused former team-mate Carlos Tevez of taking it easy in training during his time at Manchester United.

The Manchester City star is enjoying a fantastic debut campaign at Eastlands having found a goalscoring touch to match his much feted work-rate.

Tevez left the Old Trafford outfit to join bitter rivals City in the summer, and is set to meet his former club in Saturday's derby clash at Eastlands, a game which can be seen live on Sky Sports HD1.

The Argentina international has scored 22 Premier League goals for Roberto Mancini's side, but England defender Ferdinand has mischievously suggested that the energy Tevez shows on a matchday is not necessarily reflected in his attitude to training.

Ferdinand was quoted in The Sun as saying: "Carlos is an interesting character. When he was at United, he saved all his energy for the games - he didn't really go over the top at training.

"He worked hard in the gym - he was a professional in that sense - but everything he did was geared towards the match at the weekend.

"You could see him conserving his energy during the week and then laying it all on the line out on the pitch.

"That's not the way I operate, I have to train at a high level every day. But it works for Carlos and he can be a real handful to defend against."

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has had his training methods questioned by star striker Carlos Tevez.

The Italian tactician is bidding to guide City to fourth spot and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Mancini has been training his players twice a day in the run-in to the end of the season and it would appear his regime is reaping dividends as City look to be in a strong position to fend off rivals Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

However, Tevez believes the current training set-up is too much at the end of a long campaign and, with their crucial derby against cross-town rivals United at Eastlands this Saturday, has said his team-mates agree with him.

"The players are not happy with this. We are at the end of a long season, we have big matches, we are tired but there are still double training sessions, morning and afternoon," he told the Daily Mail.

"Then, the next day, we train for two hours.

"I do not understand. But, please, he is the coach and I am the player. He is in charge. I am OK with him."

Tevez's comments come after his former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand claimed the 26-year-old was a reluctant trainer during his time at Old Trafford.