• Premier League

Kompany defends under-fire Toure

ESPN staff
October 2, 2014
Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure lifted the Premier League trophy with Manchester City in May © Getty Images
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Vincent Kompany has leapt to the defence of team-mate Yaya Toure after the midfielder was criticised for his performances in Manchester City's Champions League campaign so far.

City have only taken one point from their first two games in Europe this season, with Toure struggling during their opening 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Toure and Fernandinho were then outnumbered in the midfield by Roma during Tuesday's 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, which left City's qualification hopes in the balance.

Toure has scored once this season - a penalty against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup - after finding the target 24 times for City in the 2013-14 campaign, but Kompany says City have faced a tough start.

"[Toure] has done so much for this club, he's always played brilliantly," Kompany said. "For me he's always an important player - when he does well the team does well. We've had a tough start because we've played tough teams - you can't deny that."

Toure's future at City was in doubt at the end of last season when his agent claimed the club had failed to celebrate his birthday, and the player then alleging that the Premier League champions had refused to grant him compassionate leave.

He resolved to stay at the Etihad Stadium and manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his early-season struggles may be attributable to the death of his younger brother, Ibrahim.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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