Pep Guardiola: ‘Yaya Toure has been amazing’

With the likes of David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan returning exhausted from global duty and with a vital Champions League week coming up, the City boss handed Toure a belated chance in his Premier League line-up on Saturday and he responded in style.

“I like how they gave me a standing ovation”.

But Reid agrees with the many Man City fans who believe Hart is a better goalkeeper and should still be No.1.

These joyous moments have been a long time coming for Toure.

“We have a new player now”, Guardiola, who managed Toure at Barcelona, revealed. It’s only with Toure apologizing – and asking Dimitri Seluk to let off – that he was allowed back in the team.

It was Toure’s first Premier League game for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

The Ivorian scored twice in his first Premier League appearance of the season to secure the three points.

Zaha also has more Premier League assists this season (5) than his previous three campaigns combined.

After all those much publicised “misunderstandings in the past”, for which the player had recently apologised, Toure is restored to the fray and contributing significantly once again. “His weight is flawless now, there are no doubts about his quality”, he told reporters. “We know what we have to do to win this league, sometimes you have to fight”. “It’s a gift to have another player to compete (for a place)”.

“I was delighted to play, it was hard for me”, he told BBC Sport. If there was a doubt, he would not be here. Bristling with intent and even pressing defenders to appease Guardiola’s concerns over his work-rate, Toure demonstrated his confidence has not been dulled by repeatedly sitting in the stands.

“Toure nearly won the title for City here a few years ago and on Saturday he was at it again”. It can happen once – that you play like this and still win – but when it happens often, at the end you are going to lose.

Guardiola also has Fabian Delph, who is now injured, and Fernando as other midfield options, as well as talented youngster Aleix Garcia.

Toure has been effectively frozen out since Guardiola’s pre-season arrival at Eastlands.

As backups go, there are worse options.

“I would say that his performance is not about my decision, it’s about his quality”, said City’s manager.

Toure himself was thrilled to be back playing for City and thanked his teammates for their support.

Guardiola quickly made it clear that Hart was not suited to the style of football he is trying to implement at the Etihad Stadium, and brought in Bravo from Barcelona before sending the England No.1 out on loan to Torino. No wonder supporters were glad to see him back.

“But he kept working really hard in training, stayed professional, and that was his just reward”.