Man City boss Pep ‘the best in the world’ says City assistant Toure

Pep Guardiola is ‘the best manager in the world’ says Manchester City assistant Kolo Toure as the club prepare to face in-form Crystal Palace.

Guuardiola missed the pre-match news conference on Friday for personal reasons but will be in the dugouut against Oliver Glasner’s fourth-placed side on Sunday.

City have won their last four games in all competitions and have emerged as Arsenal’s main challengers for the Premier League title.

Toure, who played for City and Arsenal, said: “Pep is fine, it’s a small matter that didn’t bring him here but everything is fine. He will be back [for the Palace game] for sure.

“I think for us we just focus on what we can do. We know the quality of Arsenal, they have a really strong squad and a fantastic manager but it is all down to us.

“We have the best manager in the world who is doing an incredible job every day, his passion for the game, he loves the players, he loves his staff. We know he will take us far as we can to win that league, for us we focus on what we can do.

“We aren’t focusing on what Arsenal are doing. Every game is like a final for us.”

City head into the weekend two points behind the Gunners, who face rock bottom Wolves this weekend.

“The manager’s energy every day is incredible,” Toure added.

“I’m so surprised, with all the years that he’s done in the league. The passion he brings to every meeting, the training sessions – he’s enjoying himself every day and we are enjoying it as well.

“You can see in the games when we play. It doesn’t matter what happens, we have a big spirit in the team, we have a lot of energy, we are fighting for every single ball.”