MX23RW : Friday, July 5 00:49:43| >> :60:3174:3174:

Manuel Pellegrini: 'Yaya Toure doesn't deserve criticism'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists that midfielder Yaya Toure doesn't deserve criticism for failing to start the season in his best form.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that midfielder Yaya Toure shouldn't be singled out for criticism when his team doesn't perform to their best.

Toure scored 20 goals last season as City won the Premier League title but he has managed to net just once - against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup - in nine games this term.

However, despite failing to hit the heights of the last campaign, Pellegrini has denied that the 31-year-old should be held responsible for his team's inconsistency in the Premier League and Champions League.

The 61-year-old told reporters: "When we play well, it is because the most important player in the team plays well.

"When we play bad it is because the whole team plays bad. It is not fair to single out one player because this team doesn't rely on one player."

Pellegrini takes his team to the West Midlands to play Aston Villa tomorrow evening.

ID:180445: cacheID:180445:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1910:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Roma's Italian forward Francesco Totti (L) scores the equalising goal past Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart (C) during the Champions League Group E football match on September 30, 2014
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Man City 1-1 Roma - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!