Fan's view: Like jilted lovers, we've been let down for the final time

(AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Like a betrayed spouse, there's only so much you can take. The whiff of perfume, the suspicious texts, the weekend conferences... you can keep it from your mind to the point where you walk into your bedroom and see your wife with another man.

Carlos Tevez's refusal to take to the pitch on Tuesday night in front of 3,000 City fans who'd made the expensive trip to Munich, was the in flagrante delicto moment. We've been kidding ourselves for months, but we all knew a climax was due.

City fans aren't stupid. We don't think that we managed to sign the likes of Nasri, Aguero and Dzeko because they grew up dreaming of sitting in Maine Road's uncovered "Gene Kelly stand" and following in the footsteps of David White. They came because we have a lot of money and we're going places because of it. If that's the price to pay for not being rubbish, then most Blues are happy to pay it.

Accepting that is difficult for fans who love their club so dearly, but it's a pre-requisite for success in modern football. Anyway, does – say – David Villa love Barcelona more than Vincent Kompany loves City? Nope.

All we want in return for this compromise is professionalism and effort. Tevez has got away with his mischief making and spectacular transfer requests for one sole reason – he always shot around the Eastlands pitch like a fly on a horse's arse. Of course he was in it for himself (and Kia Joorabchian) but we never doubted his commitment on the pitch.

Without that he's nothing. That was confirmed on Tuesday. His summer transfer request meant few tears were shed when he lost the captaincy and his place. When he failed to secure a move from Manchester we took comfort from the fact that we knew he would still give his all. And, like cheated lovers, we were let down. Again.

We won't be sad to see the back of him. To borrow the words of a fellow Mancunian – Carlos, we know it's over. We're just not going to cling anymore.

Will Dean is a lifelong City supporter