Source: Team_Talk
Man City are making strides - Yaya
Yaya Toure insists he has not taken a step down by joining Manchester City from Barcelona, and insists Roberto Mancini is a "fantastic coach".[LNB] Toure has become the focal point of City's summer recruitment drive after quitting the Nou Camp for the blue camp.[LNB]With a £24million transfer fee and wages estimated to be around £200,000 a week, Toure is by no means cheap.[LNB]But he comes to England with a wealth of experience, and a Champions League winner's medal from his time in Catalonia.[LNB]Yet there is also a suspicion he has left Barca for a more sedate life, content to just pick up his vast salary.[LNB]It is a claim he wants to dismiss by stressing his belief that City are on the up.[LNB]"I don't think this is a step down," said Toure, who was speaking at the launch of City's revolutionary online coaching school.[LNB]"The Premier League is amazing. It is stronger than La Liga. And Manchester City are making great strides within it.[LNB]"In future they will be a big club.[LNB]"Every team in every country is starting to talk about the club.[LNB]"They know we are signing good, important players and I want to do my bit.[LNB]"I don't feel pressure. I do have a lot of experience and I am determined to do my very best to make this club successful."[LNB]Saturday's clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane will represent the end of a decade-long odyssey for the 27-year-old.[LNB]Just like brother Kolo, Arsene Wenger wanted Toure at Arsenal as a raw teenager only for work permit problems to shunt the potential move to north London into the sidings.[LNB]Instead Toure headed for Belgium, Ukraine, Greece and France before finally ending up at Barcelona, where he quickly established himself as a forceful midfielder in a similar mould to Patrick Vieira, whom he now has the chance to play alongside.[LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson expressed an interest, although, according to Toure, he did not use the same personal touch he got from City boss Roberto Mancini.[LNB]"When you sign for any team, the most important thing is the contact you have with the trainer," he claimed.[LNB]"When they do something and they put pressure on in some way to sign you, it is very important.[LNB]"When you don't talk with the trainer, it is bad.[LNB]"That is why I came to Manchester City. We have a fantastic coach and we are signing good players. It will be great here this year."[LNB]Revenge could come in one of this season's Manchester derbies, when City will look to make amends for three last-gasp defeats to their old rivals.[LNB]Before that, City must play Tottenham, Liverpool and the rest - challenges Toure insists he is relishing.[LNB]"I love the Premier League," he said.[LNB]"I have always wanted to play here. The biggest players play here.[LNB]"People like Steven Gerrard and my biggest friend Didier Drogba.[LNB]"Physically it is good. You have to be strong and I am thirsty to do well here.[LNB]"There are so many big teams - Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and the rest.[LNB]"But City are here now and maybe for United that is not so nice because we are making good progress.[LNB]"I really want to see how they do against us."
