---
title: "Manuel Pellegrini backs Yaya Toure after Arsenal defeat"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2015/12/23/manuel-pellegrini-backs-yaya-toure-arsenal-defeat/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Josh Lawless"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2015-12-23T19:12:07Z"
modified: "2015-12-23T19:12:07Z"
---

# Manuel Pellegrini backs Yaya Toure after Arsenal defeat

Manuel Pellegrini has come to the defence of Yaya Toure after the Ivorian was subjected to criticism following City’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Monday.

Jamie Carragher criticised Toure in his post-match analysis, deeming the 32-year old’s performance to be “unbelievably selfish”.

![Clive Rose/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmancity.com/readmancity/2015/12/5022005241.jpg)

Pellegrini, however, says that his player does not deserve such criticism and made reference to the part Toure played in City’s late push.

[Speaking at today’s press conference](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2015/12/23/18650362/-?), Pellegrini said:

> When you lose a game, the losers are always doing bad things. The first shot Arsenal had on our goal was on 33 minutes and they scored.

Toure scored a sublime consolation goal for the Blues and Pellegrini says he is not one to scrutinise individual performances.

![Michael Regan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmancity.com/readmancity/2015/12/5021989361.jpg)

> We dominated the game – maybe we were not aggressive, but we had a couple of great chances and Yaya was involved in all of that. I never criticise individual performances.