Yaya yearns to be the Toure de Force
Startling level of abuse revealed
MIDFIELDER Yaya Toure is determined to realise his dream of helping Manchester City eclipse archrivals Manchester United.
The side have a long way to go to overhaul England’s most successful club but backed by the wealthy City Football Group, Toure felt huge strides had been made since he joined from Barcelona in 2010.
“I have already won two Premier League titles and I want more than that, another new story,” Toure told British media.
“What we are seeing is the Premier League is so tough, this year it’s going to be tougher than any other years. When I signed for City, I came to this club to make history.
“I want this club to change, I want this club to be bigger than United. I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but that’s my dream.”
City made a flying start under manager Pep Guardiola, winning their first 10 games, but have won just six of 17 matches since, a run which has left them third in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea after 17 games.
Toure, however, is certain Guardiola will not buckle under pressure to tweak the tactics that have served the manager well during trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“You always have to do what you know. I don’t think he’s [Guardiola] going to change many things,” said Toure.
“I think he’s seen how difficult this league is physically, but he’s a very intelligent guy, he understands football very well. He always has to win, to conquer a league, but he’s seen that in England it’s complicated.”
City travel to face last-placed Hull City on Monday.
● West Brom defender Gareth McAuley is keen to extend his stint at the club for at least another season but is in no rush to start negotiations about a fresh deal.
The 37-year-old, who has started every Premier League game this season, knows that he is nearing the end of his career but is confident his legs will carry him through another campaign.
“I will play football next year. Where that is, we will sort out later in the season,” said the Northern Ireland international.
West Brom, eighth in the league through 17 games, face Arsenal on Monday to kick-start a hectic holiday schedule.
“I am thinking about Arsenal, the two games in 48 hours over New Year,” he added.
“One day my body is going to turn around and say ‘no, you can’t do it anymore’. I will just enjoy it until that happens.
“It’s little things, like playing the games and not having any reactions or extra fatigue. Physically, touch wood, I am still in a good place.” — Reuters CHILDREN as young as four may have been molested as part of the deepening sexual abuse scandal that has shaken British football, police said yesterday.
In an update on the scandal, Britain’s National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said there have been significant rises in the numbers of clubs implicated, suspects and potential victims.
A probe of child sexual abuse, Operation Hydrant, is looking at 148 clubs, 155 potential suspects and 429 victims aged from four to 20 at the time of the alleged offences. Most of it happened more than 20 years ago.
Several ex-professional players have come forward to allege abuse at the hands of youth coaches after Andy Woodward revealed last month he was abused by a convicted child molester at Crewe Alexandra.
The latest NPCC figures, which cover football from the popular Premier League down to grassroots level, follow 819 referrals to Operation Hydrant.
Three-quarters of the referrals have come from a dedication helpline set up by England’s Football Association and charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The remaining referrals have come from British police forces.
Ninety-eight percent identified are male. — AFP victims