28 May, 2017
Yaya Toure might not be afforded such a send-off. "At the clubs I worked at before I am not here [for the following season], but here we have a second chance and we will try to do it better than this season".
Those plans could include inviting the long-serving midfielder back to the club next season for a pre-match presentation.
Pep Guardiola will end the Premier League campaign without a trophy for the first time as a coach.
Since resolving the dispute and being recalled in December, Toure has proved himself a valuable player for City, and even though he turned 34 on Saturday, it is clear that he still has plenty to offer.
"Gabriel was unbelievable, but the key player up front was Sergio (Aguero)", Guardiola added. I hope he stays.
"Gabriel was incredible but I thought the key player in front was Sergio", said Guardiola on Sky Sports.
"And, of course, he has quality".
Just before the hour, Aguero fed the ball to Tour and the big Ivorian burst away from a couple of challenges to get into the box in trademark fashion before beat Foster. He made that one chance with Sergio and scored that handsome goal. We'll see what happens next season.
Kompany is understood to be planning an early return this summer to ensure he is fit and firing for the start of pre-season at the beginning of July, but Guardiola wants a quiet word about him overdoing things during his own downtime.
"In life sometimes you have to make tough decisions". "When I see his performances I wonder what we could have been with him all season".
It remains to be seen if he will sign it, but Toure didn't behave like someone who meant to leave following Manchester City's final home game of the season against West Brom on Tuesday night.
And he says he is proud to have played his part in City's huge transformation - particularly in the way they have been more successful than rivals Manchester United in recent years. "I wish all the best for this football club".
"I have been in England for so many years".
Check out the official Premier League ticket hub. "We are trying to finish the season well".
Manager Tony Pulis, whose side slipped a place to ninth after a sixth loss in seven matches, said: "City deserved to win the game - they were better than us".
Pablo Zabaleta relives his favourite moments at Manchester City as he prepares to bid farewell to the club.
"I would not say it's done, fourth, but Arsenal have to win five or 6-0 to qualify fourth".
"Now we have a training session".
"Our game tomorrow is a final and next Sunday (against Watford) is a final".
That's really important as they will go straight into the Champions League groups if that does turn out that they finish third.
City needs four points to ensure their place in the 2017-18 Champions League. "It's something that I'm prepared for and I will try to enjoy it like a kid of 10 years old".
Having invested so much effort in recruiting Guardiola - they first approached him in 2012 before finally landing their man a year ago - it is unthinkable City would wield the axe so soon.