Zabaleta sat alongside Tevez on the Manchester City bench during last night's 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Tevez was seen whispering to his fellow Argentina international after he had apparently refused to take the field at the Allianz Arena, triggering the outburst from manager Roberto Mancini that concluded with the Italian's assertion last season's joint Golden Boot winner has played his final game for the club.

Zabaleta claims he was unaware of the extent to which Mancini and Tevez had fallen out.

The utility man certainly has no intention of taking sides in a war that has totally overshadowed what should have been the night when City came of age amongst Europe's elite.

But he has pledged to help Tevez, who is now awaiting news of the action he will face.

"We need to try to help Carlos," said Zabaleta.

"He has been a really important player for us in the last two years but maybe this season he has had more games on the bench.

"Sometimes that is difficult, and more so for strikers, who need to play, need to score, need to feel confidence."

Amazingly, Tevez is still to score this season, in marked contrast to the men who have replaced him - Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko - who have bagged 15 between them.

Yet, despite such form Tevez apparently found it impossible to play second fiddle, even though Zabaleta was doing exactly the same.

"Everybody always wants to play, maybe it's like that," said the 26-year-old.

"It is a difficult moment for him but we need to be calm.

"All players have different characters and sometimes the decision is going to be very difficult for everybody because we have too many players.

"We need to accept that sometimes we are on the bench but we always have to be looking to get into the team."

Aguero admitted he felt sad at how the Tevez saga unfolded.

However, City's #38million record signing - who has taken his fellow countryman's place in Mancini's team - also know the manager is boss.

"Roberto is in charge," he said.

"He puts through his opinions and ideas, and obviously makes his decisions. We just have to go with it.

"Carlos is a great player but obviously I am not inside his mind, to know his thoughts and opinions.

"It does make me sad. But they are two grown men and maybe they will sort it out."