Analysing the Importance of Yaya Toure to Manchester City

One of the most intensely debated issues at Manchester City in recent seasons has been the role of Yaya Toure.

Is he capable of playing one of the two deep-lying central-midfield roles, or should he be freed to play further up the field? Is he lazy? Is he a player on the decline? At 32, how much longer does he have left?

There are many who believe Toure should no longer be a guaranteed starter, but, crucially, Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, isn’t one of them. The Ivory Coast international remains a firm favourite with the man who matters most, and no matter which of his three formations he opts for, Toure is key to them all.

The facts speak for themselves. Toure is City’s fifth most used player in the Premier League this season having started 11 of their 12 games, totalling 877 minutes. Last season, he started 29 games and was the sixth most used player, despite him missing the majority of January games due to his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. When he’s fit and available, he’s likely to play.

It’s also clear from Pellegrini’s response to criticism of Toure from reporters that he holds him in the highest regard.

There have been numerous times when journalists have questioned the midfielder, only to be met by a rapid dismissal from a man known for his ability to manage his players with respect and keep them happy at a football club.

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The latest example of Pellegrini’s fierce defence of his vice-captain came before their recent home game with Sevilla.

He was asked about Toure’s comments that he was unhappy in England, and the Chilean was unequivocal in his defence, saying:

"

He says he is not happy about the criticism—not that he is unhappy here. He is happy as it is different to not be happy about the lack of recognition and not be happy.

It is different words that you can interpret it the way you want but I think that Yaya is happy here and he doesn't have any problem.

He is a very important player and he demonstrates it every game.

"

It’s easy to see why his manager holds him in such high regard. Toure is a unique player, blessed with an array of qualities that mark him out as a special talent.

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Which other midfielder in world football boasts the same lethal mix of pace, power, stamina, intelligence, vision, goal threat and passing accuracy? Paul Pogba, the Juventus and France star, may be the only realistic challenger, and the 22-year-old is yet to prove himself over the same kind of sustained period Toure has.

For those who feel Toure is fading, his recent display against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was an excellent reminder of his brilliance. It was a night that so many in a City shirt shone, but among the brilliance from Jesus Navas, Fernandinho et al, there was a quietly influential performance from Toure, who influenced the game in attack and defence. 

His display at Villa Park on Sunday was lacking energy, and performances like that are more frequent than they perhaps should be, but Toure remains firmly in possession of a starting place because his overall contribution is superb. 

It may, however, be impossible for him to recreate his form of 2013/14, where he scored 20 league goals—24 in total—as City completed only the second double-trophy haul in their history.

That was the height of his career to date, a season in which his influence and quality came to the fore on numerous occasions.

Last season saw a dip in form, which was acknowledged by Pellegrini. The City boss said recently that a number of outside distractions had affected him, but that he still felt he was an important player.

After City’s 3-0 win at West Brom earlier this season, Pellegrini said:

"

I am sure we are going to see the same Yaya we saw two seasons ago when we won the title and I'm happy about that.

Last season was a strange one for him what with the death of his brother and other things. I don't think he was properly focused and we have spoken about that.

But I don't think he deserved the amount of criticism he received. Maybe it wasn't his best season but he's still an important player here.

"

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The truth, however, is Toure is unlikely to ever hit those heights again, and that Pellegrini’s decision to alter his role this season and place less demands on the Ivorian is an acceptance, on his part, that asking a 32-year-old to play a box-to-box midfield role is perhaps too much.

If he plays deeper in the 4-2-3-1 system, he is no longer asked to join the attacks with the same frequency as he was previously; and in the recent 4-3-3 system employed in Seville, he had few defensive responsibilities thanks to Fernando’s presence just in front of the back four. The demands on him physically have been reduced in an attempt to maximise his ability and extend his career.

Toure managed 12 goals in all competitions last season—an excellent contribution from midfield given his distractions, but still only half of what he managed during the previous campaign. He may well be on the decline, but he's dipping from such a high level that he remains better than most midfielders in the game. 

Replacing him truly is an impossible task. The club, understandably, want Pogba, but prizing him from Juventus is just half the battle. If he does leave Turin, he is likely to have his pick of Europe's elite clubs. City will need to be at their best when negotiating with his representatives. 

For now, though, Toure will remain a highly influential player for City, and given his standing in the game and his contribution to African football, a role after his playing days could be on the cards. If not as a coach at some level, he would make a superb ambassador. 

He deserves that level of recognition for the contribution he has made at City during his five-and-a-half years at the club. Few players can claim to have had such an impact on the team in recent seasons. 

His goals in the FA Cup semi-final and final in 2011 ended their 35-year wait for silverware. He scored two at Newcastle the following season to set them up to win their first title in 44 years. And his goal in the League Cup final of 2014, as well as some crucial ones in the title run in that year, saw City's success continued.

Toure has always been the man for the big occasion. 

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.  

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.