Guardiola has seen how difficult Premier League is – Toure

Yaya Toure says Pep Guardiola has seen how difficult it is trying to replicate Barcelona in the Premier League but has backed his manager to get it right at Manchester City.

A three-time La Liga winner and Champions League victor during his time in charge of Barcelona, it has been somewhat of a culture shock for Guardiola since arriving to the physicality of England from German champions Bayern Munich.

After a strong start, City went off the boil and lost back-to-back games amid criticism over his possession-based style of play, but set in his ways, Guardiola refused to change his tactics.

City have since won two matches in succession to sit third in the Premier League – seven points behind leaders Chelsea – and Toure, who spent two years under Guardiola at Camp Nou, says the 45-year-old Spaniard is finding his feet.

“I think he’s seen how difficult this league is physically but he’s a very intelligent guy, he understands football very well,” said the former Ivory Coast captain..

“He always has to win, to conquer a league, but he’s seen that here in England it’s complicated because, as we’ve said before, in England you need to be very strong in the second balls, and also the third and the first balls.

“The manager’s idea is that we have to be like Barcelona. It’s going to be difficult but with a lot of work we’ll continue that way.”

City are away from home next week, up against bottom side Hull City on Monday.

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