Kolo Toure

The former Arsenal star joined the Eastlands revolution last summer, following an eight-year spell with the Gunners, where he won a Premier League title and two FA Cup winners medals.

Toure believes City (5/2 to win a major trophy in 2010/11) have taken another big step forward this season, including his own form, as they look to break the Premier League dominance of Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 29-year-old told the club’s website: “I came here to win trophies and play Champions League football and that is what we are all working hard to achieve.”

Toure feels he still has “five or six years left” playing at the highest level and wants those years to be packed with success and silverware.

The defender added: “I have played in one great team and I want to be part of another one. People who know me, know that I am as enthusiastic about the game as I have ever been.”

Despite admitting that he is happy with his current form, Toure believes there is still more to come from him and says he feels “much fitter” than he did last season.

He concluded: “Now I am settled in Manchester, I know everyone at the club; I know how it all works and feel very happy and comfortable with the way things are going.”

Roberto Mancini’s men return to Premier League action this weekend, when they travel to Bloomfield Road to face new-boys Blackpool (5/4 to stay up this season).

Ian Holloway will have to prepare his Tangerines side to face City without the benefit of his encouragement from the touchline.

The Blackpool boss has been handed a one-match touchline ban after his outburst at the referee Mike Dean following the home defeat to Blackburn last month.

An FA regulatory commission heard the case in London on Monday and handed him a one-match ban and a fine of £9,500, he will not be allowed any contact with his players during the game this weekend.

After the hearing Holloway apologised for swearing, saying: “You should never swear, I shouldn’t have done it and I apologise.”

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Kolo Toure

Roberto Mancini’s side inflicted a first defeat of the season on the champions last Saturday to add credence to claims they can break into the top four of the Premier League.

The win follows up an earlier success over Liverpool at Eastlands too but Toure says it is vital they not only pick up three points against the big sides but also against the so-called lesser teams – like Newcastle.

The defender said: “We just need to be consistent in our results. The Newcastle game is really important because we need to show we have improved.

“Every time we play a big team we play well but when we play a team we are supposed to beat we struggle a bit. We hope to change that on Sunday.”

City, who could move a point behind the leaders if results go their way this weekend, were held by Juventus in the Europa League on Thursday but there are real signs the expensively-assembled squad at Eastlands is beginning to gel and that they are becoming a real force to be reckoned with (City to beat Newcastle 4-0 – 16/1).

Vincent Kompany is again set to partner the former Arsenal man at centre-half against the Magpies and Toure has been very impressed with the Belgium international – whose preferred position is really in midfield.

“Vincent is a really intelligent player,” added the Ivory Coast ace. “He was strong last season and is doing really well in this campaign.

“It is not easy playing centre-half when you have been in midfield. It takes time to get used to it but he is doing really well at the back, which is good for the team.”

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Kolo Toure

City are up to fourth in the Premier League following their win at Wigan last weekend – seven points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

The defending champions have made a faultless start to the season, with five wins out of five, but they face their toughest test yet as they travel to Eastlands on Saturday (Man City 21/10, Draw 9/4, Chelsea 6/5 – Match Betting).

City (4/6 Top Four Finish) beat Chelsea home and away last season and Toure admits confidence is high that they can claim the three points again this weekend.

The former Arsenal man said: “We need to make sure we take something from it. If we can get one point that would be great, but if we can get all three like we did twice last season, that would be fantastic.”

Toure has revealed that Roberto Mancini has had his squad working hard in training on the defensive side of the game, which looks to be paying dividends.

City have conceded just two goals in their opening five matches and will need to be at their best again to keep the free-scoring Chelsea at bay.

Toure has pinpointed Ivory Coast team-mate Drogba (6/4f to be 2010-11 Premier League Top Scorer) as the main danger for Mancini?s men and feels the Chelsea striker has been better than ever this season.

The centre-back added: “It seems like he’s getting better with age because he’s such an intelligent player. He’s had to change his game. He knows he needs more help from his team-mates now.”

“I know his game well, but he’s still difficult to play against because he’s so powerful,” he said. “He’s playing so well and with all these assists, he seems to have improved his style of playing.

“At the moment, I’d say he’s on fire. So we’re going to have to defend really well as a team to stop him. We’re going to have to be really strong on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini has played down suggestions of a bust-up with Emmanuel Adebayor.

There have been suggestions that the City boss had a row with Adebayor regarding the striker’s current injury – with a dead leg seeing him miss the last three games.

Mancini says the former Arsenal striker trained with the squad on Monday and could come into contention for the visit of the league leaders (Both Teams To Score – 5/6).

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Barcelona cleared the way for the Ivory Coast midfielder to move to Eastlands after confirming his departure on Monday and Toure is expected to be the first of a number of big-money signings by City manager Roberto Mancini over the next month.

Toure was expected to seal a move to City earlier this month but the deal was held up by the player’s participation in the World Cup and a change of presidents at Barcelona.

But new Barca chief Sandro Rosell takes over at the Spanish champions from outgoing president Joan Laporta on Thursday and Toure’s agent anticipates the transfer being finalised soon after that following the confirmation that the midfielder and teammate Thierry Henry will be leaving this summer.

Agent Dimitri Seluk told Sport: “I think we will have a solution this week. In fact, I would say that (it will be done) on the first or second of July – maybe on the second because the first will be a very busy day at Barca with the change of president.

“Yes, we have to talk, but of course, the reality is not going to change in one moment.

“Yaya wants to play the important games and he knows that he will be an important player at Manchester City.

“It is not a money problem, as I have said 1,000 times, but a problem of (the lack of) confidence (that Barca have in him).”

Seluk admitted that nothing has been signed yet but said that Toure?s wage demands are not excessive and he does not expect anything to hold up the deal.

He added: “I haven’t signed anything. However, Yaya doesn’t have an astronomical salary, not at all, so it won’t be difficult to be reach an agreement.”
Toure could be joined at Manchester City in the near future by Valencia striker David Silva and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

Silva, who is also wanted by Premier League champions Chelsea) has been given permission by his Spanish side to open talks on a possible £29 million move, with striker Roque Santa Cruz possibly moving in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal.

Milner has been a target for Mancini all summer and is expected to hold urgent talks with Villa at the start of next month following England?s disappointing World Cup exit.

City kick-off the 2010/11 season with a visit to Tottenham and Mancini would like to have all three players available for the clash at White Hart Lane (Man City 7/4 to win, Tottenham 5/4, 9/4 draw)

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