Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says Yaya Toure’s match-winning two-goal display against West Bromwich Albion on Monday is a clear sign the Ivorian is back to his best.
Toure scored the opening two goals in a 3-0 victory against the Midlands outfit at the Hawthorns before captain Vincent Kompany added a third in the second half from a corner.
David Silva might have something to say about the first Toure goal, but there was no doubt about his second after a one-two with compatriot Wilfried Bony, leaving Pellegrini a very happy man.
“Yaya will return to the Yaya of two seasons ago,” Pellegrini said confidently.
“I always said that last season was a strange season for Yaya, he started the season with a lot of problems, the death of his brother, afterwards there were a lot of problems with his agents.
“So I think that he was not focused on what he had to do last year.”
Speaking to Manchester City’s official website Toure appeared tired of criticism that has come his way, which could be an ominous sign for the rest of the Premier League starting with champions Chelsea this weekend.
“I hope this year’s going to be fine for us but most importantly we have our target, try to bounce back like two years ago. We have to keep going,” said the 32-year-old.
“Sometimes people criticise you unfairly but we don’t care. The most important thing for us is we try to make everything 100%.
“I’m a competitor, I love playing football, I love my job and I don’t care what people are saying about me.”
Toure’s ability to score goals from midfield was a crucial factor in City’s title win of two seasons ago, when he managed 20 compared to only 10 league goals last season.
While still an impressive number for a central midfielder, it is important to note that the side’s other star men Sergio Aguero and David Silva both scored more goals last season than when City won the title.
Chelsea started with an unconvincing 2-2 draw at home to Swansea and will also be wary of City’s start for another reason: the winners of the Premier League for the last two seasons started their campaign with a Monday night victory, Chelsea away to Burnley 12 months ago and Pellegrini’s troops at home to Newcastle in 2013.
Main image courtesy of Action Images/Carl Recine, with thanks.
