Tévez gunning for Porto

Argentinian forward Carlos Tévez says Manchester United FC "want to keep on winning titles" as he looks ahead to this evening's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg with FC Porto. United may be feeling "a little bit worn out at this stage of the season", but he quickly warns against reading too much into their recent defeats by Liverpool FC and Fulham FC. Here, in a Q&A with uefa.com users, the 25-year-old recalls his first steps in football, that night in Moscow and his favourite goal.

How good are Porto?
Nicholas Chuang, California

Carlos Tévez: They are a good team with lots of attacking power. They have great strikers and they are going through a very good period at the moment. It won't be easy to beat them, but we have confidence in ourselves. We are dreaming of returning to the final and winning the Champions League once again.

Do you think Manchester United's recent defeats will affect your performance against Porto and also in the Premier League?
João Pinto, Portugal

Tévez: No. Because we've had two defeats everyone thinks we're going to fall, but I don't. It's true that we feel a little bit worn out at this stage of the season, but we will fight for the Premier League and the Champions League until the very end. It's a very strong team and I think we still have margin for error. Although Liverpool are close to us, we have to just think about ourselves. I've told Javier Mascherano that he is going to be disappointed [laughs].

How nervous were you taking that penalty in the UEFA Champions League final last season and what were you thinking as you hit it? Also how good was the party afterwards?
Martin Chapman, Birmingham, England

Tévez: I wasn't nervous, I was confident. I knew how I was going to take it and with luck I was able to convert it. It was a beautiful feeling. The celebrations were incredible. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had in my career as a footballer.

Who is your favourite player?
Juho Mehtälä

Tévez: There are many. I think that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best and Lionel Messi too.

What was your most memorable goal?
Andyman

Tévez: A goal I scored against Santos when I was playing for Boca Juniors in the final of the Copa Libertadores. The goal put us ahead in the game [Boca won 3-1, on 3 July 2003]. That day we were champions in the Copa Libertadores and it got us into the final of the Intercontinental Cup to face Milan. For a Boca fan like me, it was one of the best memories I have of wearing that shirt.

The reason I admire you so much is because you put your whole heart into the game and never give up. I would like to know what lessons in life you learned to be so determined on the football field?
Willi Fahning

Tévez: When you do what you love, you put everything into it all the time. I'm happy being a footballer and it's what I've always wanted to be. I enjoy every single minute I am on the pitch.

Would winning five trophies this season put an end to the debate over who is the biggest club in the world?
Makarand P. Dandekar, 19, Mumbai, India

Tévez: I don't know, I haven't played for any other big clubs in Europe to compare with Manchester United. But United are huge, without doubt, in every sense. I am very happy playing for them and always having the opportunity to win important things.

What was it like when you finally made it into the world of professional football? Any memories from your first game or training session as a pro?
Matt David

Tévez: Everything went too fast for me in my career. I made my debut for Boca aged 17. When I used to play for the youth team at Boca, I used to like being ball boy for the first team, just so I could be close to the players. I took photos with them. They were all great players that had won many important things. I dreamed of being like them. And the first time I played with the first team, I couldn't believe I was even getting changed next to the likes of Martín Palermo, Guillermo [Barros Schelotto], Sebastián [Bataglia] and many others. It was a dream for me.

How would you say English football differs from South American football?
Corey Brown

Tévez: They are quite different. In South American football there is more space to play the ball; it is played at a different pace. English football is more physical. You have less time on the ball because you always have someone marking you. We have to think fast and get rid of the ball quickly. It is played at a high speed.

When not playing football, what do you usually do during the day?
Saad Adel, Kuwait

Tévez: I like to be with my family. I spend lots of time with my daughter Florencia and my wife Vanesa. I am a very quiet person. And when I am in Argentina I like to spend a lot of time with my parents, my siblings and my friends. I don't get the chance to spend a lot of time with them and we miss each other when I'm in England.

Do you think Argentina will win the World Cup in South Africa?
Moses Ochieng

Tévez: I hope so. It's the dream we all have.

Who is the better coach: Sir Alex Ferguson or Diego Maradona?
Mathieu Warnier, Houilles, France

Tévez: I don't know. Ferguson has spent over 20 years as manager of Manchester United. Diego only recently started to manage the national team and he has less experience. Maradona knows how to speak to you as a player. He always talks to you and tells you things from his own experience that stay with you. As a player, sometimes it is very difficult to separate the admiration you feel for him, for all that he represents. I am confident he will do very well.

How does it feel to be a fans' favourite in Brazil and England, two of Argentina's most storied rivals?
Benji Senderowicz, 20, Moraga, California

Tévez: It is very nice to feel the affection of the public. I enjoy being close to people. If I am asked for an autograph or approached with respect, I always try to sign them because I feel it is my duty to be grateful to the fans. I have always tried to give my very best at each club I have been at, and it's the same with the national team.

How did you become a pro footballer, and what is your favourite thing about it?
Kareem Shaikh, 15, Glasgow, Scotland

Tévez: It is what I chose to pursue and I have fulfilled my dream. I enjoy all aspects of it, especially when I am out on the pitch, winning titles and playing with my team.

Carlos, what was the best piece of advice you received from a coach and who is the most inspirational coach you have worked with?
Jonathan D. Worrall, 23, Totowa, NJ

Tévez: I don’t know. I've had great coaches throughout my career and all of them taught me something, whether it was [Carlos] Bianchi or Ferguson, and now Maradona.

What does success mean to you?
Brian Fernandes

Tévez: Nothing special. I feel like the same person I have always been. Nothing has changed me.

Who do you look up to as your hero in the football world?
Peter, 16, Manchester, England

Tévez: Maradona, without doubt. There will be no other footballer like him.

Carlos Tévez was speaking to Veronica Brunati.

FC Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez is next in line to answer questions from uefa.com readers so to put yours to him click here. Please include your name, age and location in your email. uefa.com will select the best questions and put them to Márquez ahead of the second leg of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against FC Bayern München.