Cape Town - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has backed Yaya Toure
to make an impact in Tuesday's Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow.
Questions have been raised regarding the midfielder's form this season, with the Ivory Coast international struggling to replicate the performances which saw him play a leading role in the Citizen's 2013/14 Premier League-winning campaign.
Toure was used as a replacement in City's league clash with Tottenham on Saturday, having only returned to training following the international break on Friday.
Speaking ahead of the encounter with CSKA, Pellegrini stated his belief that criticism of Toure is unfounded and that the 31-year-old will soon show his worth once more.
"I don't agree that Yaya has had a bad season," he said.
"Maybe if you compare his performances this year to last season, when he had a brilliant performance, maybe he just needs time to get back to that level.
"But he continues to be a very important player for our team, especially as he showed two games ago against Aston Villa.
"Every game he is playing better. He had a very complicated summer, but I think now he is arriving back towards his normal performance.
"But I don't think this team just depends on one player. If we didn't play well in some games before, it's because the whole team didn't play well, not only Yaya."
City have endured a mediocre start to their Champions League, claiming just one point from their opening two fixtures, and will be looking to kick-start their campaign in Russia.
Questions have been raised regarding the midfielder's form this season, with the Ivory Coast international struggling to replicate the performances which saw him play a leading role in the Citizen's 2013/14 Premier League-winning campaign.
Toure was used as a replacement in City's league clash with Tottenham on Saturday, having only returned to training following the international break on Friday.
Speaking ahead of the encounter with CSKA, Pellegrini stated his belief that criticism of Toure is unfounded and that the 31-year-old will soon show his worth once more.
"I don't agree that Yaya has had a bad season," he said.
"Maybe if you compare his performances this year to last season, when he had a brilliant performance, maybe he just needs time to get back to that level.
"But he continues to be a very important player for our team, especially as he showed two games ago against Aston Villa.
"Every game he is playing better. He had a very complicated summer, but I think now he is arriving back towards his normal performance.
"But I don't think this team just depends on one player. If we didn't play well in some games before, it's because the whole team didn't play well, not only Yaya."
City have endured a mediocre start to their Champions League, claiming just one point from their opening two fixtures, and will be looking to kick-start their campaign in Russia.