City won’t get swept away by plaudits: Toure
YAYA Toure claims Manchester City have taken no notice of all the praise coming their way during a flying start to the season.
City, unbeaten this campaign, recorded a 17th successive victory with a 1-0 defeat of Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday that also secured top spot in Champions League Group F.
They will go into the knockout stages regarded as serious contenders to win the competition while, on the domestic front, they already look formidable with an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
“It is very important to keep the confidence going,” said veteran midfielder Toure, who made only his fifth appearance of the season against the Dutch champions.
“But we have to be careful because in these circumstances we have to keep focused. What I learned when I was in Barcelona in 2009 was we don’t listen to any newspaper because you could think you are one of the best and after that get a strong team who destroy you.
“We have good team dynamics. I love it and the manager loves it.”
With a place in the last 16 already assured, Toure came into the team as manager Pep Guardiola made seven changes. The team lacked their usual intensity but eventually prevailed as a well-worked goal from Raheem Sterling — his 11th of the season so far — brought them victory in the 88th minute.
Toure said: “To be honest we had nothing to play for, it was like, try to sit back, make a good counter-attack.
“I think we found (them) quite a difficult team. Of course we scored the goal in the last minutes but I think, in my opinion, we should have scored earlier. We had a couple of chances in the first half.”
Toure, having been one of the driving forces of City’s successes since joining the club in 2010, is now having to settle for a bitpart role but he insists the situation is not bothering him.
The 34-year-old said: “You want me to play? Tell the manager.
“Look at my face. Do you think
(right) I am frustrated? Am I enjoying it? Of course. (If ) I am frustrated, think what I would do. I would say to the manager I don’t want to be on the bench and I want to go home.”
Toure played 75 minutes before making way for the debut of highly-rated youngster Phil Foden, star of England’s recent Under-17 World Cup triumph.
Toure said: “If he stays in this club, he is going to be one of the top players because it’s always good to learn from and be close to the big players. It’s fantastic for him and he’s going to be the future.”
Foden (17) said: “It meant everything. I’ve waited so long for this opportunity and it finally came and it meant everything to me.” Focus is key: Yaya Toure says City aren’t getting distracted TOTTENHAM’S Danny Rose was left “fuming” by his north London derby snub but insists he understood the decision and has not fallen out with Mauricio Pochettino.
Rose was not even named on the bench for Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal as Pochettino felt he would be better off doing a fitness session. The move prompted renewed speculation surrounding the future of the defender, who had to apologise in August after suggesting he would be open to leaving Spurs.
However, speaking after Tottenham beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, Rose sought to clarify his reaction to missing out against the Gunners.
“My reaction was I was fuming, I was angry, but understanding at the same time,” Rose said. “There’s been no bust-up, no argument, no falling out. The manager just explained that he thought it’d be better for me to do a hard session on Saturday.
“I did that. I understand that there’s been a lot of reports but it’s not welcomed, and it’s not true, and whether I’d been at the Emirates or not, I think everybody’s losing sight that I couldn’t have stopped the referee or linesman from making bad decisions which led to us conceding.
“Me and the manager have not fallen out, we have not not had an argument. I was angry about not being involved, but at the same time, I understand and I respect his views.”
Rose played 90 minutes for the first time since January against Dortmund after spending nine months out with a knee injury.
Goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane overturned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener at the Westfalenstadion as Tottenham secured first place in Group H.
Asked how close he is to 100 per cent, Rose said: “I don’t know. I thought I was close and then first half I was horrendous, I thought I was getting hooked at half-time, and it gave me a bit of a reality check.
“I don’t think I’m far off but I hope I can play as many more games to help me get there as quickly as possible.”