adminLONDON. — Yaya Toure believes Manchester City can win all of their remaining English Premier League fixtures and successfully defend their title. Manuel Pellegrini’s team have slipped to seven points behind leaders Chelsea with 14 matches left to play, the first of which is against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium tonight.
City have failed to win in their last five matches, a run that has coincided with Toure’s absence due to African Cup of Nations commitments with Cote d’Ivoire.
Toure helped his country win the continental competition on Sunday with a penalty shoot-out victory over Ghana in the final and is due back in Britain this week.
However, Pellegrini has said it would be “impossible” for Toure or compatriot Wilfried Bony to feature against Stoke and that their return to the Premier League is likely to come against Newcastle United on February 21. After triumphing with his country, Toure (31) is ready to inspire his club to glory.
“With my confidence I know football is not about one game or two games, especially in the Premier League,” he said.
“We have 38 games and if we want to achieve it (winning the title) we have to win all the games.
“I know it is difficult but now I have to go back and do my duty again.”
After being held by Hull, Manchester City are unlikely to take the prospect of facing Stoke lightly, especially after Mark Hughes’s team enjoyed a surprising 1-0 victory when the teams met at the Etihad Stadium in August.
Jesus Navas says Pellegrini’s team can ill afford any similar slips. — AFP.
Online Reporter