Liam learns his lesson
LANCS BATSMAN ON ENGLAND TROUBLES /PAGE 55
YAYA Toure says City are still Champions League underdogs.
And the Blues midfielder believes Pep Guardiola ‘s exciting team will not get a true measure of their worth until they face one of the European big guns later in the competition.
City ensured top spot in Group F with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord that kept up their 100 per cent record – and stretched their winning streak in all competitions to 17 games.
But Toure – one of three Blues stars to already have a Champions League winner’s medal – said they are still behind the strongest sides.
And when asked if they could win it this season, he replied: “I have to stay positive. We are in good form.
“When you see all the top teams they are a little bit stronger to be honest.
“When I see Juventus, or Madrid, Barcelona – all these teams - are stronger and better. Statistics mean nothing and we have to play against them and see where we are.”
But Toure, who was in the Barcelona side that beat United in the 2009 final reckons the big boys also count City as a threat.
Clinching top spot in the group means City could still land Real Madrid, and probably Bayern Munich or Juventus, in the last 16, but Toure is hoping for a kinder draw. “No, I don’t want them now!” he joked “Further, further!”
But he conceded that City did use to worry about landing one of the big teams in the last 16, saying: “We used to think about it a little bit. We still have to finish first. If all the top teams finish first then it is good.”
City special: Pages 60-63