The Ivory Coast star has returned earlier than anticipated due to Nigeria’s 2-1 win in the AFCON at the weekend and he is feeling fresh and ready to go as the Blues aim to claw back the Reds’ sizeable lead at the top.
Yaya will go straight back into battle this weekend at Southampton and his presence in midfield could be the boost City need as the race for top spot enters the final turn.
“We are further behind than we’d like, of course, but all we need to do is think about last season to know what is possible,” he said.
Anything can happen. We have a full squad of fantastic players and I think the most important thing is we are all back together
...Yaya Toure...
“My friends are all here and are happy to see me and we are like a family or brothers who will all fight together – and that is a very important thing to have.
“United have a strong squad and on paper, they have an easier run in than we do but the title race is a long way from finished. It only takes a couple of results to go our way and we’re right back in it – I’m sure we’ll come back.
“I feel like I’m home again and I met some City fans before my flight from Paris to Manchester and they said ‘welcome home, Yaya’ and they said they wanted me to help the team and bring happiness to our supporters. That’s what I aim to do.”
Yaya admitted there is still a feeling of unfinished business after The Elephants dipped out in the AFCON quarter-finals, but added now is not the time to dwell on international football – only domestic matters.
“Of course we were disappointed,” he said.
I’m a professional and I have a mentality of wanting to win trophies, but now is not the time to think about that
...Yaya...
“We tried our best but it wasn’t good enough this time and now I am only focusing on City, my Club. I’m only looking forward and not back and that means the Premier League and nothing else at this moment. It’s good to be back.”
