Toure sets sights on Champions League return after convincing Guardiola

Top scorer Sergio Aguero was moving gingerly by the final whistle, but Guardiola does not envisage him being an injury doubt for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Burnley at this stage.

“Pablo Zabaleta as well”.

“Of course Yaya can be important, like every other player”. “It was a hard game, a complicated one against a great team”.

“Obviously it was not the nicest game and the end was especially boring to see but for both teams it was a good thing”. Guardiola will be expecting an intensive performance from his players, they’ll be looking to starve Burnley of the ball and will need their midfield to be energetic in order to do so. “We’re going to sleep all together here in the City Football Academy and tomorrow we are going to travel to Burnley”.

City were favourites to win against struggling Monchengladbach, but manager Pep Guardiola was happy with the result.

City’s numerical advantage was canceled when Fernandinho was awarded with a second yellow for a foul on Raffael in the 63rd and while Silva came close to putting his side ahead, his goal ruled out for offside as the match finished level.

Guardiola also reiterated that he hopes Lionel Messi remains at Barcelona for the rest of his career, rather than joining City.

The five-time Ballon d’Or victor first established himself as the shining light of world football under Guardiola’s guidance at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, while the presence of former Camp Nou figures Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano on the board at the Etihad Stadium has contributed to City regularly being linked with Messi’s signature. “Yaya was so important at Crystal Palace with his two goals and how he played but as a team our performance must be better so I am concerned to play better as a team. In some minutes we believed it, in others we didn’t, but we are there and that is why we are so happy”. “What they do, they do really well, I am really impressed about their quality, their spirit”.

“I saw their games”. Three draws in their past five games has halted their progress and allowed other teams to catch up. Their attention and focus is higher than before. I didn’t speak with the doctor because we were celebrating a lot in the dressing room. Worryingly for City they are leaking goals at the back, which will give Burnley hope heading into this one, but a win looks likely for The Citizens even if it is a tight affair.

Josep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City gestures during the UEFA Champions League match between VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach and Manchester City FC at Borussia-Park on November 23, 2016 in Moenchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. Their legs are faster and cleaner than ours’.

City captain Vincent Kompany is set for another spell on the sidelines after he picked up a fresh knee injury.