What better way to make a comeback from a three-month suspension than to save the day? Yaya Toure won Manchester City three crucial points against Crystal Palace when he scored all two goals, to edge past a resilient Crystal Palace.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I have been lucky. Today was very tough. We now know what we have to do to win this league, sometimes you have to fight,” [/perfectpullquote]
Toure said in a post-match interview.
The 33-year-old midfielder opened the score with a 39th-minute goal and Palace pulled one back in the 66th-minute but an 83rd-minute goal scored by the Ivorian, put City 2-1 in the lead.
The traveling City fans were elated by Toure’s performance and they chanted the Ivorian’s name and celebrated by singing an old favorite – the “Kolo Kolo Kolo / Yaya Yaya Yaya” classic, to a different tune.
Toure who was also congratulated in the post-match interview added, “Thank you, it is very kind of you. I was delighted to play today. it was difficult for me. I am very happy to be playing football, my teammates are very important to me.”
City players were just as happy to have Toure back as they were for his performance. They surrounded the match winner at the final whistle to show their appreciation for his efforts and the rest of the squad, clapped him (Toure) back into the dressing room.
“They have always been brilliant with me, always supportive. I always want to be there to help them. I am professional, I always want to improve my game. I was prepared mentally and I knew that one day my manager would need me. You must always stay professional,” the Ivorian said.
Pep Guardiola – who had suspended Toure at the beginning of the season after his (Toure’s) agent Dimitri Seluk insulted the City manager – also expressed his excitement. His reaction showed it all when after the final whistle, a pleased Guardiola embraced Toure in a proud-like manner.
“I am so happy for Yaya Toure, he is a really nice guy. His weight is perfect now, there are no doubts about his quality. At the beginning we did not count on him, he would not be here, but he can play many positions.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I am so happy for him and his family. We have one more man to help us achieve our targets,” [/perfectpullquote]
said Guardiola in a post-match interview.
The long feud between Guardiola and agent, Dimitri Seluk seems to progressive positively starting with Toure issuing a statement about the situation at the start of November, getting in better shape and now helping City win this week’s Premier League game. Seluk is yet to apologize.
Guardiola added, “The last month and a half he was amazing in training, his behavior is absolutely everything. His teammates love him. He is going to help us rotate the team.”
The win moves City second in the table to level with leaders Liverpool on points and with an identical goal difference.
Featured Phot: Yaya Toure played his first match in almost three months and scored two goals. (BBC)
