Pellegrini: Toure’s heart is in the club

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has no concerns about the form or commitment of key midfielder Yaya Toure.

The normally influential Ivorian has not been his usual formidable self in City’s early matches.

Toure, pictured, came in for particular criticism after Wednesday’s Champions League loss at Bayern Munich. The 31-year-old’s application, especially to defensive duties, and his body language were questioned after an ineffectual second-half display. Toure’s below-par performances this term come after a summer of unrest in which he voiced complaints about the club and speculation over his future surfaced. He also suffered a personal loss with the death of his brother. Pellegrini insists Toure’s heart is in the club.

The Chilean said: “It is not fair for me to criticise what Yaya did last game. I think everyone knows what is his best performance, of all the players.”

When pushed further about Toure’s form, Pellegrini insisted he would not focus on individuals. The 61-year-old said: “The concerns are about the performance of the team. Maybe we were unlucky to lose that game in the last minute. It was a very unpredictable goal, but as a team I think we can do it better. That is why every week I try to improve the work we do as a team.”

Pellegrini’s men go into the game without a win in their last three outings with a defeat by Stoke and draw at Arsenal preceding the Munich loss. The game raises the possibility of Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, playing for City against the club where he has spent the majority of his illustrious career.

There have been reports Lampard, who is still to make his home debut for City, is reluctant to play against the Londoners but Pellegrini insists that is not the case. He said: “Frank is part of our squad and tomorrow I will give the squad list for that game. For sure he will be involved in that game. He is part of the squad.”

“I don’t think it is a difficult situation for him. I think Frank didn’t continue at Chelsea because they didn’t want him, not because he wanted to come here to Manchester City. He can’t continue playing in the team he played his whole life, but he has all the rights to continue playing football. He arrived here and we are very happy with him.”

Meanwhile City midfielder David Silva has warned the Citizens’ slow start does not mean they cannot retain the Premier League title.

“Last year we started the same and ended up winning the title so hopefully this year it will be the same, a slow start but end up winning,” he said.

“Lots of us started late because of the World Cup and it takes time to be 100%, which we are still not.

“We need to win on Sunday or the gap will be start to be too big but in the Premier League you do not want to stop fighting until the last minute.”