Manchester City vs. Middlesbrough: Pep Guardiola's Key Pre-Match Presser Quotes

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told reporters that Yaya Toure's apology to the club is "good news" during a pre-match press conference.

Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk, accused the City boss of humiliating his client at the start of the year by leaving him out of the club's Champions League squad, per Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror, and peace talks have only just commenced.

The Ivory Coast international took to Facebook to apologise for the part he played in his relationship breaking down with City. And, naturally, that was a hot topic in the press room.

But it seems all is well in the City camp, as Guardiola revealed he's spoken to Toure and looks to have resolved the issue, per the club's official Twitter feed:

After revealing all on the Toure case, the City manager looked ahead to the weekend clash with Middlesbrough at the Etihad Stadium.

City's treatment table has been very busy of late, but Guardiola said that Fabian Delph and Bacary Sagna are both nearing a return to action:

He also revealed that skipper Vincent Kompany is good to go on Saturday and could come into the side to replace John Stones or Nicolas Otamendi at the back.

Stones and Otamendi played their part in City's incredible 3-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona in midweek, and Guardiola told reporters he's conscious of his side resting on their laurels:

Middlesbrough returned to winning ways in the Premier League last time out with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Riverside, and the former Barcelona manager said the team demand respect.

He praised both Alvaro Negredo and ex-Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes in his press conference, saying that he owed a lot of his success in Catalonia to the latter:

Manchester City are expected to roll Middlesbrough over on Saturday with minimal fuss.

Their performance against Barcelona was simply outstanding, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in scintillating form and tormenting a usually solid back line.

Yet City need to remain focused on the job at hand when Boro come to town and make sure they don't drop vital points in the title race.