Main man Yaya will play against Stoke despite CSKA taunts

Andy Hampson 06:56 30/08/2014
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  • Taking it all in his stride: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

    Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini does not think Yaya Toure will have a problem returning to CSKA Moscow this season.

    City’s inspirational midfielder was subjected to racist taunts by supporters when the clubs met in the Russian capital in the Champions League last year.

    Toure was upset by the abuse and even suggested black players could boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia if the country did not get to grips with the issue.

    CSKA were punished with a partial stadium closure by European governing body UEFA and sanctions were increased to full closure after a further offence in another match. That means CSKA – who have been drawn alongside City again – will be playing behind closed doors at the Khimki Arena in their first home match of this year’s competition.

    That punishment will have been served by the time City visit on October 21, but Pellegrini expects Toure to be prepared to play.

    Pellegrini said: “He does not have a problem to go to Moscow. At that moment he said what he thinks about it and everyone of us supports him because I don’t think those things can happen on a football pitch. This year Yaya doesn’t have a problem.”

    Asked if he had spoken to Toure about the matter, Pellegrini said: “I don’t think it’s important to continue the same thing.

    “That happened last year and UEFA has rules not to allow those things so I don’t think it’s good to continue with that.”

    In addition to CSKA, City will also take on another of last year’s opponents in Bayern Munich in their latest Champions League group. It is By Andy Hampson the third time in four seasons City have been drawn alongside the German giants. All three of those sides are domestic champions while the fourth side in Group E are Serie A runners-up Roma.

    City meet Stoke – managed by former manager Mark Hughes – today with Pellegrini in no doubt his team can handle the pressure of expectation.

    City have made a confident start to their Premier League title defence with back-to-back victories. Monday’s 3-1 win over last season’s runners-up Liverpool was a particularly assured performance and emphasised their strength in depth.

    Pellegrini said: “That expectation does not depend on one game against Liverpool – it depends always. We are a strong team, the same as five or six other clubs in England.

    “We don’t have a problem with that expectation. We need to win and we will try to win always.”

    Pellegrini must decide whether to start Edin Dzeko or Sergio Aguero up front with the Argentine scoring City’s third against Liverpool after returning from injury.

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