Ilkay Gundogan's absence may be one of the biggest blows Manchester City got this season, but having a veteran star such as Toure Yaya is the best trump card Pep Guardiola could ask for. This Boxing Day match at Hull City proved that the Ivorian player will be highly effective for the Citizens and should replace Gundogan fairly well while he is recovering for this long period of time. Yaya scored the first goal for his side, which gave them enough room to maneuver and secure the result.
Near the end of the match, Hull lowered their guard and allowed another two goals, one from Iheanacho and an own goal scored by Davies. After the match, Guardiola spoke to Sky Sports and said: "Absolutely deserved, since he's come back his performances have been outstanding. He's a huge personality, and he always plays with good intelligence. Congratulations because you did well in giving man of the match to Yaya. We are so happy that he's come back, he was always a part of us, but now he's back playing.
Toure also spoke to the press: "[On Sunday] I talked with my kids, it was my boy's birthday, he tells me 'you're going to score' and I'm delighted. I'm always delighted to play and to entertain the fans and that's what I want to do. To be a part of the team and winning is always a massive achievement and any opportunity I get I will take it."
In further analysis, Guardiola added: "Yes [it was tough], like always," Guardiola said. "The first half we controlled, the second half we had problems and were lucky in the situation with Bacary. You always have pressure, the teams at the top are winning, [Manchester] United, Arsenal, Chelsea won but every game is pressure and like a final. Because you have a team in this league winning 12 in a row that means a lot. You have to win, sometimes you play before, sometimes after but the target is the same."
Photo credit: Manchester City FC