Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure has predicated he will burst with joy if they win the Premier League this term.
Ivory Coast international relishes intensity of the Premier League
Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure has predicated he will burst with joy if they win the Premier League this term.
The 28-year-old scored the only goal in the FA Cup final last season to defeat Stoke but the Ivory Coast international is now targeting further glory.
Toure won a host of honours with Barcelona during a trophy-laden three-year spell.
City's midfield dynamo played at the heart of the Barcelona team that won the UEFA Champions League in 2008/09, but admits the intensity of the English game would mean his achievements here would be all the sweeter.
"At Barcelona, it was sometimes so easy to play because we were a lot better than the other teams so to play as a defender in the Champions League final was not as difficult as you might think," Toure told the
Daily Mail.
Premier League
"We were amazing that year so it was not that hard. Here at City we have different challenges and to me the Premier League means everything. You have to understand that I mean that.
"One time when I was still in Spain I saw Kolo (his brother) and Didier (Drogba) when I was with the national team. A few months earlier Drogba had won the Premier League.
"I said, 'Didier I saw you on the TV and you were so happy. I have never seen you like that. Why was that?'
"He told me that it was because it's just so hard to win the Premier League, that the happiness is like nothing before.
"Even when you go to Blackburn and Stoke and Blackpool..... it is so hard every week. He said I wouldn't understand until I played here. He was right.
FA Cup
"He told me that here you play Boxing Day, New Year's Day..... you never get a break. I had not experienced it before. So when you win you are so happy."
The younger of the two Toure brothers has been an ever-resent in Roberto Mancini's team this term. His athleticism, talent and winning mentality have made him indispensible at City.
And his manager is aware the Ivorian will be central to their hopes of success as they target the biggest prizes in the game.
He added: "When I signed for City I called my brother and told him if we won any cup I would be so happy. We won the FA Cup last season and that was great. But the big target now is the Premier League.
"If we win the Premier League I will go crazy."
