Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Manchester City's Yaya Toure hoping for more Wembley glory

Yaya Toure is hoping to be Manchester City's Wembley hero again and help Pep Guardiola's side return to the FA Cup final for the first time in four years.

The Ivorian scored the final penalty in the shootout of last season's League Cup victory over Liverpool and also hit a spectacular 30-yard strike in the 3-1 win over Sunderland in the same competition in 2014.

More memorably he scored in the semifinal of City's 2011 success, which ended the club's 35-year wait for a major trophy and ushered in a new era of success.

City beat neighbours Manchester United 1-0 in a tense semifinal at Wembley and then overcame Stoke City by the same score with Toure scoring the only goal in each game and the midfielder says it was an unforgettable moment.

"It was something very, very special. I think it was the beginning of a new era in a new situation of what this club wanted to achieve -- to win trophies," he said. "It is something I cannot forget and that a lot of people will never forget because it was so special. For me it meant a lot to win something.

"The atmosphere was brilliant. It was one of the games we were dreaming about. The FA Cup is such an important cup in England but for us as well it was the beginning. Our team was starting to be formed.

"It was such an unbelievable team. That year we finished third in the league. It was unbelievable and this trophy topped it off.

"The team was very direct but clever as well. It was from there that we started. It was important to win trophies because it means something and that was when we started to realise just how important it was to try and lift trophies at the end of the season.

"In Africa we say everything has a beginning and after the FA Cup, we went on to win the league. It is something so special because everything started from the FA Cup."

City returned to the final in 2013 but suffered an embarrassing defeat to Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the Premier League in the same season.

That 2011 triumph remains the only time the club has won the trophy in the last 47 years but Guardiola has the chance to make it his first success at the club if he can get past Arsenal on Sunday.

And with Toure out of contract at the end of the season, an FA Cup final appearance could potentially be his last game for the club he joined seven years ago.

"It's a very big game for us, we can't deny it," the 33-year-old added. "It is very important for us. I just want to add this trophy to my living room.

"I hope this time we going to be lucky from the first minute. I think Arsenal is a step -- we have to remove them and go to the final. But we'll see what can happen."

But if City make it to the final, they are sure of difficult final with the Premier League's top-two Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur meeting in the other semifinal. However, Toure believes City would be worthy winners if they lift the trophy at the end of May.

"I think we are the team who produce the most beautiful games," he said. "We all do a good job, we've been doing it, I think. We deserve something.

"Of course, I don't take credit from Chelsea or Arsenal or Tottenham for being there. I think these four clubs, are fighting. They have all won trophies and I think the one who is going to win will deserve it."

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