Manchester City to be bigger than Barcelona says Yaya Toure - 7M sport

Manchester City to be bigger than Barcelona says Yaya Toure



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Posted Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester City to be bigger than Barcelona says Yaya Toure
ABOVE: Manchester City can still be bigger than Barca, says former Nou Camp hero Yaya Toure

MONEYBAGS Manchester City can still be bigger than Barca, says former Nou Camp hero Yaya Toure.

Roberto Mancini’s squad take on Inter Milan in Dublin this afternoon looking to confirm their Champions League potential.

New signing Sergio Aguero could make his Blues debut at the Aviva Stadium after his £38million move from Atletico Madrid.

Aguero’s arrival strengthens Mancini’s hand as he looks to put pressure on rivals Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

But FA Cup Final match-winner Toure, 28, believes City should look to emulate Champions League winners Barcelona in the ambition stakes after Lionel Messi and Co outclassed United to win the big one in May.

“Last season I was asked to compare City to my former club Barcelona,” the Ivory Coast midfielder revealed in Ireland.

“I responded by saying that I thought City could be as good as Barca one day.

“That was before Barcelona’s amazing finish to the season with their incredible performance in the Champions League Final.

“But when I said City could be as good, I truly believed it and still do.

“We have a way to go to match those teams but it is our aim.

“And with the ambition that the club has shown in the last few seasons and the way we are improving as a group, I think other clubs are now starting to take notice of the new Manchester City.”

The Blues finally ended their agonising 35-year wait for a trophy at Wembley in May but a third place finish in the Premier League proved more lucrative.

Toure, who has been out with an ankle injury picked up on City’s US tour, added: “We have the Champions League to go for this season as well as the Premier League and our fans will want us to defend the FA Cup as well as go for the Carling Cup.

“It will not be easy, we know that, but you look through the squad and there is quality in all positions and not just in the starting 11 but on the bench too.

“We have shown we can match and beat the best in the Premier League and the next step is to do that in Europe too.”

Toure is already guaranteed legend status at the Etihad Stadium after scoring the goals that beat United and then Stoke in the final two games of the FA Cup campaign last season.

But he insists that City’s game is all about teamwork and not individual glory.

Toure said: “Although I scored the winning goals in the semi-finals and the final of the FA Cup, both of those victories were down to us being a strong team.

“Our team bond developed during the season and we were very strong at the end.

“Not only did we finish in the top four by a big margin, we won a trophy and we overtook Arsenal to finish third so it was a very successful finish.

“I think we showed people what we can achieve in the future. There were some very obvious highlights for the supporters.

“As for my own game, I still feel I can do more and improve for City. A lot has been made about the different role I am playing at City to the one I played at Barca. I have been used by the manager in a more attacking position and I have enjoyed that responsibility and being able to contribute with a few important goals too, because all players enjoy scoring goals.

“My understanding with the players at City is getting better and I’m looking forward to improving again this season.”

City face Inter in the Dublin Super Cup with boss Mancini viewing it as a dress rehearsal for the Champions League.

The Italian put out a second string in yesterday’s opening game against the League of Ireland representative side at the Aviva Stadium but the big guns will be back against Mancini’s old team.

He said: “Playing against a team like Inter today is a good experience for us.

“We’ve come up against very different types of opponents during our pre-season and the idea is to try and replicate the different challenges we will face in the new season.

“Italian football is very different to the English game and I need my players to be ready to adapt styles and counter these top teams.

“We are in the Champions League for the first time and if we are to be successful in all competitions, we need to beat teams like Inter.

“We played them last year in Baltimore and lost so we need to be on our game to try and turn the tables.

“Mario Balotelli and I have an association with Inter, of course. It will be nice to say hello to a few old faces after the final whistle has blown.”



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