Manchester City star Yaya Toure has angrily explained why he is disgusted by the English press.
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The Ivory Coast captain is often one of the first players to be criticised when the Citizens don't perform, with lots of pundits claiming he doesn't do enough defensive work.
However, he has begun the new season with a goal and four assists, and many believe he is back to his best after a tricky campaign last term.
"In recent weeks, journalists have spoken about a new beginning for me. But what a new beginning," he told L'Equipe.
"I'm coming off a season when Man City finished second in the Premier League, which is the most difficult in the world. I scored 12 goals; I also had to leave the club to join my national team, who were playing the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I missed almost two months (of Premier League football), and then I was criticised for not scoring as many goals as in the season before?!
"You understand a little, my disgust. Here, when it's bad, they (British journalists) highlight the faults. When it's good, they say nothing. They have always used their little ways to annoy me to distraction. I often feel that I'm unhappy. A lot.
"Here, things are never as they say should be. Shouldn't we be more interested in mentioning the positive rather than the negative?
"We Africans, when we do a good job, we like to be rewarded, recognised. Because if a player is given fair value, we move faster. That's what I think.
"When I came to City in 2010, I heard people say here that I would kill football!
"I arrived from Barcelona as a player who had not played too much the last few months, and they did not understand. The journalists spoke of my salary (about €1 million a month), saying that it was a shame. But I was just at this club to help it grow and win titles.
"Many people, beasts, I must say, have laughed at me when I said that. They wondered what I, Yaya Toure, could do to change City. And then you saw what happened next? We almost won everything.
"I did it, we did it because I was not alone, of course, but no one said a thing. It's a bit disgusting.
"These people are not very smart. I do not have the habit of making shock interviews, I only say what I think. I've suffered for years, and now I have decided to talk. I mean everything."
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Overall, Toure has scored 65 goals and assisted a further 42 in 232 games for City, lifting five trophies since joining them from FC Barcelona in 2010.
Do you think Toure is underappreciated in England? Have your say in the comments section below.
