City won’t hold back at Monaco
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Toure says Manchester outfit won’t curb their natural instincts in second leg against Ligue 1 side
Toure sees no reason for Man City to change the attacking style of play that has been rewarded by an 11-game unbeaten run as the side reaches a crunch part of the season both domestically and in Europe.
“When you’re a winner and when you want to achieve important things you have to work hard,” the 33-year-old Ivorian told British media. “Sometimes it’s difficult but you have to be positive because we know people are waiting for us to fail.”
City hold a 5-3 advantage over Monaco ahead of the away leg in their Champions League last 16 clash on Wednesday and have risen to third in the Premier League after winning four of their last five matches.
“We are playing very well at the moment and we have a team that plays mostly attractive games and sometimes the pundits are waiting to analyse,” Toure added of the Monaco clash.
“We are going to attack, we never do it the other way, we will attack and they will expect that as well. The best defence is try to score.” After the European tie, City host fourth-placed Liverpool in a vital Premier League encounter on Sunday.
Monaco owe most of their recent success to their young guns, but against City they will turn to a more experienced player in Radamel Falcao.
The Colombia striker, who endured two dismal injuryplagued seasons in the Premier League, has been near his best since he returned this season from a season-long loan at Chelsea. “This season, I’ve been playing consistently. The club has full confidence in me, the staff and my team mates make me feel important,” said Falcao, who scored two but missed a potentially decisive penalty in Monaco’s 5-3 defeat in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium. “With confidence, the rest comes naturally. I don’t think players forget how to play football. I just needed playing time and continuity. You don’t forget how to score goals,” Falcao added.
drawwith Stoke may have diminished Manchester City’s chances in the Premier League but they are in good shape to make it to the Champions League quarters for the second season in a row.
in the last 20 minutes to secure a 5-3 win over Monaco in the first leg on home turf which put thems in the driver’s seat in Europe’s elite club competition.
the field that their defence is ought to come under pressure. So it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola will adopt a cautious approach with City entering the contest with an advantage.
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John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi were easily run over by the Monaco forwardline, especially the rejuvenated Radamel Falcao, and they will have to be on their toes in the return leg. PLAYED
all but one of their five previous two-legged ties against teams from the English league, including Champions League triumphs over Man United (1997/98 quarters), Chelsea (2003/04 semis) and Arsenal (2014/15 round of 16).
of the 20 UEFA competition ties in which they have had to recover from a first-leg away defeat — including twice already this season.