Saturday 14 January 2017 23:30, UK
Pep Guardiola has admitted Yaya Toure deserves to be restored to Manchester City's Champions League squad.
Toure was omitted from City's 25-man list for the group stages, sparking a row with his agent that led to him being frozen out of Guardiola's side altogether.
That issue was resolved in November as Toure apologised for the remarks of his representative Dimitri Seluk, who had accused manager Guardiola of humiliating the player.
The former Ivory Coast international has now put the matter behind him and reclaimed a place at the heart of City's midfield, with a series of impressive performances likely to see him back in contention for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
"He deserves that. In the first part of the season he was not able [to play] for many physical reasons, in the second part you know why [not],” Guardiola said ahead of Sunday’s Sky Live clash with Everton, part of Merseyside v Manchester.
"But of course he [now] deserves to be in the Champions League in the second round."
Toure fell out of favour with Guardiola at Barcelona and his lack of activity early in the season fuelled speculation he again did not figure in Guardiola’s plans, with problems further exacerbated when the Seluk row broke.
But Guardiola is convinced he has since turned a corner and claims the player's renewed zest comes as no surprise to him.
"I know him better than you. I was with him in Barcelona,” added the Spaniard.
"I judge the players on whether they are able to go to Old Trafford, to Anfield, to the Nou Camp, to Madrid, to Turin, on how they are going to react.
“There is no doubt about Yaya on that. His personality is huge in those terms. I knew that from Barcelona."
City were unable to get Toure into their initial squad because they had already filled their 17 available spaces for overseas players but a space has now become available following a season-ending injury to Ilkay Gundogan.
Toure's impressive form comes as his contract winds down but the two-time Premier League winner is just one of six City players whose deals expire at the end of the season.
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas and Gael Clichy are the others who may be on their way out of the Etihad.
Guardiola admits that situation is not ideal, and he offers no guarantees to any of them about the future, but he has no doubts about their professionalism in such circumstances.
"They [each] have to play every game for himself, for their families and for the team. Of course we are concerned about that, but they are so, so professional,” he said.
"If they are angry or upset because they aren't renewing their contract they are not going to play, another guy will play.
"But the four or five guys in that situation, I see them every single training session and in the games, and I am just glad with how they do.
"We are going to see at the end of the season."
Watch Everton v Manchester City in the first game of the Merseyside v Manchester double-header. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 12:30pm on Sunday.
