Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

‘City can drive home edge over United’

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MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Yaya Toure believes Manchester City can prove they are the number one team in Manchester if they finish the Premier League season above their old rivals United. A 0-0 draw against United in Thursday’s derby at the Etihad maintained City’s one-point advantage over Jose Mourinho’s side in the race for a top-four finish and qualification for next season’s Champions League. Victory for City against struggling Middlesbrough would help Toure’s team ensure they finish above United for the fifth time in six seasons.


“Yes, of course, all the time we finish above them in the season, it shows City are doing very well,” said Toure when asked about the shift in the balance of power.


“United are building something very interesting. We have to be aware of that but I think City are going to be much much stronger next season as well. “Next year we are going to expect more and I hope United are going to attack a little bit more.


“City are always fighting for the title and this year was quite difficult, quite disappointing, because we have been frustrated at playing well, control the opponent, dominate the game, but then you see the result at the end and we’ve lost or we win by a small gap.


“We need to work on our finishing to be honest.”


That finishing — badly lacking against United — may be improved if manager Pep Guardiola decides to hand a start to Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus who came on as a substitute in the derby. The 20-year had been out for over two months after surgery on a broken foot although veteran Sergio Aguero had responded with 12 goals in as many games in his absence.


“No, Aguero is doing very well to be honest,” said Toure when asked if City had missed the youngster.


“Gabriel is coming. At the moment it is quite difficult because we are missing the goal but if we have a striker who is going to score a goal it is going to make quite a difference for us.” ‘We have to win’  For City, who will end the season without silverware, it has proved a frustrating campaign after Guardiola opened his English career with 10 successive victories in league and cups. — AFP


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