Manchester City 5 Barnsley 0 FA Cup match report: Carlos Tevez shrugs off jail threat to drive City to Wembley semi-final

Argentine scores hat-trick to set up possible Manchester derby at Wembley

Manchester City's Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal and his third to complete his hat-trick (Getty Images)

As someone who spent his months in exile from Manchester City playing golf in Argentina, Carlos Tevez would be interested in Tiger Woods' progress in the World Championships in Florida.

Ever since Woods' private life was smeared on to the front pages, he has become a more vulnerable player. Tevez, however, has carried on regardless of what has been written about him.

When, against everyone else's better judgement, Roberto Mancini allowed him back as last season reached its climax, Tevez repaid his manager with a hat-trick against Norwich City.

Now, as Tevez faces a possible jail sentence if found guilty of driving while disqualified, another hat-trick demolished whatever faint hopes Barnsley might have had of reaching a second FA Cup semi-final in five years. On other evenings, the margin might have been greater than 5-0.

Few in the Etihad's home dressing room thought the striker would be affected by this latest incident. "That's the type of guy he is, nothing really fazes him," said Gareth Barry. "It has been in the papers that Carlos has had a few problems but he doesn't let much affect him.

"It takes a lot to get him agitated. If you had seen him in training this week, it was as if he had no problems away from the pitch. But I think in general if you have problems off the pitch, then the best place to get rid of them is on the pitch – either on the training ground or at the stadium. It can take your mind off them for 90 minutes anyway."

For the second time in three seasons, Manchester City are through to an FA Cup semi-final and their progress to Wembley and a potential derby against Manchester United has been astonishingly smooth – four games, 13 goals, none conceded.

Barry hesitated when asked whether winning the FA Cup would make up for failing to defend their league title. Before he exchanged Aston Villa's midfield for Manchester City's it would have seemed an odd thing to even consider.

"Yes, three years ago it would have been a strange question," he said. "But, once you win that first trophy and then the second, you are hungry to keep winning them.

"I am not sure. We are desperate to retain the title but United's points total is immense and, if they keep winning, you have to hold your hands up and say they have had a fantastic season. But I think winning the FA Cup would go a long way to saying it has been a good year for us."

Tevez has announced he would neither seek nor accept a new contract once his current deal expires in June next year. Barry's contract has the same time frame, at 32, he is starting to think about his future.

"I want to finish my career challenging for trophies and this is the perfect club to do that," he said. "I am very settled here but, at the same time, there are new people here [chief executive Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, director of football].

"They will have a good long look at where they want to go and the players they want to take them there."

Match facts

Goals: Man City Tevez 11, 31, 50, Kolarov 27, Silva 65. Substitutions: Man City Sinclair (Nasri, 53), Razak (Silva, 66), Milner (Tevez, 76). Barnsley Scotland (Dagnall, 52), Mellis (Cywka, 53), O’Brien (Etuhu, 53). Bookings: Man City Y Touré. Barnsley Tunnicliffe. Man of the match Tevez. Match rating 6/10. Possession: Man City 63%. Barnsley 37%. Attempts on target: Man City 10. Barnsley 3. Referee A Taylor (Greater Manchester). Att 46,728.