Friday 9 December 2016 15:52, UK
Pep Guardiola says Yaya Toure's drink-driving charge will not harm his chances of playing for Manchester City against Leicester on Sunday.
The Ivorian was charged last Tuesday after being stopped in Dagenham and is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on December 13.
The 33-year-old was used as a substitute in last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea but is a strong candidate to start alongside Ilkay Gundogan in central midfield against the Foxes with Fernandinho suspended.
Guardiola confirmed Toure has provided a suitable explanation for the incident and is in contention to play.
"I spoke to him about the issue. He gave me his reasons. I trust him. I take the decisions on what I see on the pitch about his behaviour," Guardiola said.
"I said before he played at Crystal Palace that he's part of the team because he's training well. He's fit. I love midfield players. If I could play with 11 midfield players I would, and he's one of them.
"Then, after the charge, we are going to see what the solution is."
This will be the first Premier League game Fernandinho has missed this season, and Guardiola said: "He's so important for us."
City must also cope without Sergio Aguero, whose challenge on David Luiz sparked the melee in which Fernandinho was also sent off, and defender Nicolas Otamendi, who picked up a fifth yellow card against Chelsea.
Guardiola has, though, been boosted by the fitness of winger Raheem Sterling, who has recovered from the knock he suffered against Burnley two weeks ago.
The loss to Chelsea, in which City conceded three goals in the last half an hour, left Guardiola's side four points behind the league leaders, but he was upbeat afterwards about their performance.
And Guardiola is confident if City show the same form they did last weekend and in the Champions League draw with Celtic in midweek, the results will follow.
"In the long term, if you play good you are going to win. I want to feel. I am a coach for the results of course or I wouldn't be here but I want to enjoy with my team," Guardiola said.
"Sometimes it's a little bit sad when you deserve to win but you are not able but it happens to all teams around the world. Always I am focused on the way you have to play, not the result. The result is a consequence of what you do.
"If we play like we did against Chelsea or Celtic, we are going to do good things. If we play like (in wins over) Crystal Palace or Burnley, we are not going to do absolutely anything."
