Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure would prefer to play "without a referee" in Thursday's derby with Manchester United after criticising the standard of officiating in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.
Arsenal had not looked entirely comfortable in their new 3-4-3 formation the previous week, when they ground out a 2-1 win over struggling Middlesbrough, but they were dogged and determined against City, qualities they have so often lacked this season. Had that been the case, City would have gone into the break of...
"It was important for us to get to the final for him, for ourselves and for the fans, and have a bit of positivity around the club", Ramsey said. "We have to recover and be ready", Toure said.
Toure's long-time midfield colleague David Silva is a major doubt for the derby after sustaining a hamstring injury in a heavy challenge from Arsenal defender Gabriel and City missed the mercurial Spaniard's influence as their Wembley afternoon unravelled.
Mourinho: criticism of United players is 'common sense'
Per the Metro , Mourinho could give a shock start to youngster Matthew Willock, in what would be the 20-year-old's first-team debut.
Manchester City will face Manchester United on Thursday in a fierce battle to secure a top four Premier League spot. What we do we're going to do for him, because it was sad when he was in the dressing room, he wanted to help us. "This was quite odd, very sad. If (we) talk about the referee the FA is going to come in for the punishment if we think like that, but I think I need to sleep and rest and forget this game".
The race for the Champions League appears tighter than ever following the weekend, after Liverpool surprisingly lost 2-1 at Anfield to Crystal Palace.
"I don't know how to express myself because if I say something wrong the FA is going to bring a big charge". You accept you are in a job where you have to accept the decisions of the players and he made that decision, that I respect completely. "But next season they are going to put in cameras [technology]". If the referee decides against us, what are we to do?
This one should go Arsenal's way, but we think that Leicester will push for goals as they have at other top-seven sides, and Arsenal's defence has been far from watertight this season.
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