Yaya Toure left out of Manchester City Champions League qualifier squad

Guardiola called the midfielder a “fantastic player” after Man City’s 5-0 thrashing of Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League playoff first-leg match on Tuesday, when Sterling set up two goals and looked unsafe both on and off the ball.

Pep Guardiola has challenged Manchester City to prove that they belong at the elite level in the Champions League.

According to a separate report from the Daily Mirror, Hart has now been told he will be allowed to leave, assuming City can find a suitable new number one – possibly Claudio Bravo for whom talks are believed to be at an advanced stage – before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Yaya Toure’s agent says the Manchester City midfielder plans to stay and fight for his place despite being left out of their first game of the season.

“The way to go to the Champions League with the big clubs in Europe is to play with passion, with love in our games and our job”.

The main issue seems to be a belief by Guardiola that Hart isn’t good enough with his feet, preferring to bring in a goalkeeper who offers more in terms of quality distribution as he looks to secure a third Premier League title in five years for his new employers.

“At Barcelona and Bayern Munich, I wanted to change the line-up because always I want to involve, I want to create something where everyone is involved”.

‘I thought I had a chance with the previous manager but I don’t know!

“I need to feel this pressure, the people demanding that you have to win”. Maybe we will not have success and it will be hard.

It’s understood City are offering Bravo a four-year-deal worth around £90,000 a week.

Raheem Sterling has got his season off to an impressive start at Manchester City – and new manager Pep Guardiola may be the reason why.