MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez struck a superb double as Manchester City rose to third in the Premier League and closer to a guaranteed Champions League spot with a 3-0 win over FA Cup final opponents Stoke City Tuesday. The unsettled Argentine, who coach Roberto Mancini said had told him he wanted to stay at the club, showed his importance with emphatic finishes either side of a Joleon Lescott header. The win saw City leapfrog Arsenal and boost its chances of avoiding a playoff to reach Europe's elite competition. The win moves Mancini's in-form side into a coveted automatic Champions League place with 68 points while Arsenal is fourth with 67 also from 37 games with one remaining. Tevez, who is now joint top scorer in the Premier League with 20 goals, has been dogged by rumors about his future since he submitted a transfer request in December. But Mancini told a post-match news conference Tevez had reassured the Italian he would still be at Eastlands to spearhead their European campaign next season. “Every time we say he is important and a fantastic player,” the City boss told reporters. “I think he will stay here next season. We don't have a problem. He told me that he wants to stay, he has a five-year contract.” A pedestrian first half was brought to life after 14 minutes when Tevez fired City in front against the team it beat to lift the FA Cup at Wembley Saturday. The striker played a one-two with James Milner before beating twisting and turning past defenders Ryan Shawcross and Andy Wilkinson before firing into the top corner. Lescott doubled City's advantage eight minutes into the second half when he rose above goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and headed into an empty net. Tevez then wrapped up all three points with a ferocious curling freekick from 30 meters. City visits Bolton Wanderers Sunday knowing a win will clinch third and a spot in the Champions League group stage while Arsenal, which suffered a surprise 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa last Sunday, must travel across London to play Fulham. “It's important now that we gather our strength for the game at Bolton,” Mancini told the City website (www.mcfc.co.uk).
