Manuel Pellegrini: Yaya Toure is NOT to blame for Manchester City slump

Manuel Pellegrini says it is unfair to blame Yaya Toure for Manchester City’s slump and insists he will not drop him for Sunday’s home clash with West Ham.

Toure came under fire from TV pundits Gary Neville and Niall Quinn as well as City fans for his performance in the Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford last Sunday.

It was the latest in a series of below-par displays from the Ivory Coast midfielder whose goals and assists totals are significantly lower than last season when he was a leading figure in City’s surge to win their second Premier League title in three seasons.

His form has fuelled speculation that he will be moved on this summer with former City boss Roberto Mancini keen to take him to Inter Milan.

But while Pellegrini admits Toure hasn’t been the force he was last season he doesn’t believe he needs a rest despite his heavy schedule for club and country – he played in the World Cup last summer before his country to the African Nations Cup in February.

He said: "Yaya doesn't need a break. For a lot of reasons he's not the same player he was last season but he continues being a very important player for our team.

“It's very easy when you don't get results to single out one player but remember in January and February when he was away at the African Nations Cup people said we were missing him, we were a one-man team and we couldn’t win without him.

“Now people are criticising him and saying he will be sacrificed.

“I don't think he's happy with his performance this year - and nor am I. But we must support him and help return him to his normal performance.

“He's not playing well in parts of the game. But in some parts he is playing well and he will continue playing. Yaya needs support, he's a very important player and he will have my support till the end of the season."

Toure, 31, has two years left on his £220,00-a-week contract at the Etihad but Pellegrini refused to be drawn on his future.

“We are not talking about that," he added.

"Yaya will continue playing here because he is a very important player for me and the squad and for everyone. I don't want to start commenting on rumours. When we prepare for the new season, I'll talk about new players with all the important people at the club. For now we are just concentrating on the final six games.”