Manchester City manager defends Yaya Toure after African award fury

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has come to the defense of controversial midfielder Yaya Toure after the Ivorian lambasted the Confederation of African Football for not awarding him a fifth consecutive African Player of the Year title.

Toure's age (32) and effort level have been put under the microscope this season, but Pellegrini says Toure is still a vital player for his title-contending side.

"He's not so old. I think he's a player who is very important, an experienced player and he knows how to play every game," Pellegrini told reporters. "Maybe to play the whole season three games a week, he is not able to do it, but I think he can play in the way he's playing now. He can make a difference."

As Manchester City's ownership group looks set to hire Pep Guardiola, the spirit of change has settled in at the newly expanded Etihad Stadium. Toure's future at the club is in question as a result. Pellegrini understands some of the criticism, but believes Toure still has elite performances left in his tank.

"Every time people say we have not got the squad we need, people always look at Yaya, but remember he scored three times in the last few games," Pellegrini said. "Maybe against Everton he didn't play very well but every player has better or worse games. You can't talk always about it being because he's older. Everyone can have a bad game.

"Maybe it's the image, the body language, but if you review the numbers of Yaya, each game he runs as much as every teammate."