Yaya: My guilt at leaving Man City - 7M sport

Yaya: My guilt at leaving Man City



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Posted Friday, January 20, 2012 by The Sun

Yaya: My guilt at leaving Man City

YAYA TOURE admits he feels guilty, is concerned and that the timing could not be worse.

But the big man promises he will be back soon enough to put it all right. Just not yet, though.

Not until he has won the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast.

Then, he says it will be all guns blazing to become a double champion — with club and country.

For while Toure is in Africa right now, Manchester City are still high in his thoughts as he anxiously follows their faltering form.

He confessed: "I do feel a bit guilty. I said to my wife it's difficult to be away from City right now.

"But if I win the Cup of Nations and then come back and win the league it will be the most amazing season for me. And I'm very positive we can do it.

"Very positive that the Ivory Coast can win the Cup of Nations. And City win the Premier League. It will be very hard, very, very difficult.

"But all my countrymen believe we can win the cup and all City fans believe we can win the League."

Intriguingly, the similarities between City and Ivory Coast are striking. Both are the favourites, have star-studded squads and have gone decades without landing a big one.

Yaya was not born the last time City were champions — in fact his dad would only have been a nipper.

But at least the £24million star can remember the last time Ivory Coast were Kings of Africa.

He said: "I remember in 1992 when we won the cup. It was unbelievable.

"They were a great team and it was such an exciting game. They won on penalties and the hero was Alain Gouamene, the goalkeeper, because he saved two penalties.

"I was only eight years old but I remember it so well. There were big celebrations, the whole country came to a standstill for four days.

"So I know how special it will be for everyone if we can win it again."

Toure is determined that this time Ivory Coast will live up to expectations.

He said: "We always have a great team and a fantastic squad. In the last four years we have probably had THE best team but have never won it. It's time to put that right.

"We need to look and learn from Egypt. They are not a big team full of the biggest stars but are all together and work for each other. Now we have to do the same."

There are echoes there for City too — a reminder that the team with the best players does not always triumph.

And Toure knows top-of-the-table City must prove themselves in what he acknowledges is the toughest league in the world.

He said: "There's big expectations because we are one of the biggest clubs now.

"We have spent a lot of money and built an incredible squad.

"Now we have to justify that by winning trophies.

"Our aim is to win the Premier League but I know that's not easy. The Premier League is the best competition in the world. It is so difficult to win.

"I remember Thierry Henry talking to me about it when we were at Barcelona.

"He said the Premier League was the most difficult league he had ever played in and now I know why. I have great respect for Spanish football and Barcelona and Real Madrid are so high — but part of that is because the other teams are so low. That makes it all too easy for them.

"You will never see Malaga win at Barcelona or Zaragoza at Madrid.

"But the other day we have bottom-of-the-table Blackburn winning at Manchester United, Aston Villa winning at Chelsea and we lost at Sunderland. Unbelievable.

"That would never happen in Spain.

"That's why people all around the world love the Premier League. That's why this league is so hard to win and why it will be so special for me and City to do it this season."

It is clear Toure believes neighbours United are the biggest threat. He said: "We know Manchester United are a strong team.

"They have such fantastic experience, more than any other team in Europe. Even more than Barcelona, so it is going to be very tough."

But tough is just the way 6ft 3in Toure likes it.



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