Carlos Tevez landed himself in fresh controversy Monday when he was pictured waving a mocked-up tombstone for Sir Alex Ferguson during Manchester City's Premier League title celebrations. The 28-year-old Argentina striker held up a banner designed to look like a gravestone and bearing the words ‘RIP Fergie' as City celebrated its title triumph over Manchester United during an open-top bus parade. Manchester City later released a statement apologizing to Ferguson and criticized Tevez, while the player — who it is believed took the banner from a fan — also said he “didn't mean any disrespect”. “The creation of the tasteless material is in itself reprehensible and in accepting and brandishing it, Carlos has made a significant error of judgement,” said a City spokeswoman. “The club wishes to express its sincerest apologies to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United Football Club for any offense or distress caused.” Tevez for his part said he had just got carried away. “I got carried away in the excitement of the moment and I certainly didn't mean any disrespect to Sir Alex Ferguson, who I admire as a man and a manager,” he said. There was speculation it could have been a reference to a comment made by Ferguson in 2009 when he was asked whether United would ever be underdogs to its city rival. “Not in my lifetime,” the United manager said. Tevez left United in 2009 and joined City. He spent several months in exile earlier this season after refusing to come off the bench during a Champions League game at Bayern Munich in September but returned to play a key role in the title run-in after making peace with coach Roberto Mancini. Under clear skies, 24 hours after its dramatic title win over Queens Park Rangers, Manchester's streets were transformed into a sea of blue as up to 100,000 City supporters lined the pavements. Many fans on the two-mile route were too young to recall City's last title triumph in 1967-68 when it finished two points clear of United. Others had poured out of the Etihad Stadium believing Roberto Mancini's side had blown the title before late goals by Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero snatched it from United's grasp on goal difference. “It was an incredible day but the support we've seen here on the streets almost matches it,” said City goalkeeper Joe Hart. “The fans are brilliant and that they think so much of me means everything. They know this is my club and the only place I want to be.” We invest in youth: Ferguson Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Monday he wasn't concerned by rivals and newly-crowned Premier League champion Manchester City's ability to out bid it in the transfer market. United lost out on successfully defending its title solely on goal difference to City Sunday when two injury-time goals saw City to a 3-2 win over QPR and its first league crown in 44 years. However, Ferguson said he was not going to be forced into a change of transfer policy because of losing out to its city rivals and would stick to investing in young talent while Abu Dhabi-owned City spent huge amounts on established players. “We know City is going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about that,” the 70-year-old told MUTV at the United player of the year dinner. “We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time, who will create the character of the club and the excitement for our fans.”
