Mario Balotelli urges fans to support Carlos Tevez

Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli says City fans should treat Carlos Tevez just as they did before the striker's five-month absence from the team.

City manager Roberto Mancini claimed Tevez refused to play during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

Balotelli told Noel Gallagher for Football Focus: "I think supporters have to be like they were before. If they make pressure on Carlos, they make pressure to all the team, so they should do nothing."

Watch the full interview on Saturday's Football Focus at 1215 GMT on BBC One and this website.

You can also find out more about the interview between Gallagher and Balotelli by reading Dan Walker's behind-the-scenes blog.

Listen again to BBC Radio 5 live Sport's special on Mario Balotelli by downloading the podcast.