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Manchester City FC 2017/18 Player Preview – Yaya Toure

By James Baguley

STRATFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Yaya Toure of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with Leroy Sane during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on February 1, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
STRATFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Yaya Toure of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with Leroy Sane during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on February 1, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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When the Ivorian performs to his best City are a formidable force but can he do it once again?

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Yaya Toure of Manchester City scores his side’s third goal from a free kick during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Yaya Toure of Manchester City scores his side’s third goal from a free kick during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

When Yaya Toure joined Manchester City in 2010 not many would foresee just how important he would become. Winning goals in the FA Cup semi-final & final helped City to win their first trophy in 35 years and the following year he helped drive City on to win their first top division title in 44 years. He followed this up by playing a key role in securing City’s second Premier League title in 3 years, becoming only the second midfielder in Premier League history to score 20 league goals.

The trophies didn’t stop there. His stunning equalizer in the 2013/14 League Cup final helped provide the catalyst for another victory. 2 seasons later, he helped City lift the League cup for the second time under Pellegrini’s tenure. Since joining he has helped City lift 5 trophies and  the Ivory Coast win their first African Cup of Nations in 23 years. On a personal level he won 4 consecutive African Player of Year awards from 2011 to 2014 

Next: Manchester City 2017/18 Player Preview - Ederson

“I am a midfielder who is mainly involved in the defensive phases, even if I also like to help build moves – I would say that my foremost quality is my generosity.”

Even now, at the tender age of 34, he instills a level of calm in the midfield and allows City’s flair players a platform to perform. Last season he played a more withdrawn role, often dropping deeper than the centre backs. This allowed him time and space to pick the right pass.

Last season didn’t start so well for Toure, after being left out of the Champions League squad in September due to the FFP restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed in the squad. He remained out of the team as Guardiola refused to play him. His agent, Dimitri Seluk, had to apologise for claiming he had humiliated Toure.

It wasn’t until November that he returned to the team, scoring 2 goals against Crystal Palace. From that moment on he was back to being an integral part of the team as others in his position, namely Gundogan, Delph and Fernandinho, missed out through injury and suspension.

Where does he fit in this season?

Playing at the base of the midfield with a willingness to drop deeper, his ability to calmly collect and carry the ball before playing it through to the likes of Silva and De Bruyne as well as providing timely marauding runs which often end up in goals. However, with the team having experimented with a three at the back during pre-season, he may well be given more of a license to push forward and help supplement an already well provisioned attack.

A leader on the pitch as well as off of it, Toure has captained City numerous times in the absence of regular captain Vincent Kompany. His experience not only lends itself to the already established members of the first team but also to the younger players in the squad. Phil Foden & Brahim Diaz will benefit from training with Toure and learning from one of the more experienced members of the squad.

The only worry is keeping him fit as the team have little options in the centre of the pitch at the moment. With Fernando having left for Galatasaray and Fabian Delph rumoured to be leaving, it leaves City with only Toure, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan as options to play the deeper of the midfield roles. However, if kept fit, he will be integral in helping the team achieve it’s goals this season.

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