Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 6y

Manchester City's Yaya Toure hoping for Wembley return this season

MANCHESTER -- Yaya Toure says he is hoping for at least one more return to Wembley with Manchester City and maybe even more before the end of the season.

City are one step away from securing a place in the Carabao Cup final after a 2-1 victory over Championship side Bristol City in their semifinal first leg.

Toure, who is out of contract in the summer, has fond memories of League Cup finals at the national stadium, having scored a brilliant 30-yard strike in their 2014 success over Sunderland and taking the winning penalty in the 2016 victory over Liverpool.

He also scored the only goal in the FA Cup final victory over Stoke City at Wembley in 2011 that ended City's 35-year wait for a major trophy.

"It's always special to play at Wembley. I love to play at this ground because I well remember 2011 and then the other cup finals after that," he told reporters. "We still have a big game to get there, but to go there again would be massive -- it's always a big crowd and a special atmosphere.

"But the second leg will be a tough game. And it's very challenging because we will have to switch off from the league and go to the FA Cup, this semifinal and then the Champions League in the next few weeks."

Toure has not ruled out making a second visit for the FA Cup final and while many are talking down City's quadruple hopes, the 34-year-old insists it's a possibility.

"We are optimistic. We know it's going to be difficult because the Premier League is so tough and now the FA Cup has come as well," he added. "But we aim to do the max we can. We can see where we are going, but if we can continue to win games like this ... maybe. We will see."

While there has been plenty of talk of winning four trophies, Pep Guardiola is still to secure his first trophy as the City manager and Toure says it's important to get that trophy and to win regularly to become a major force like Manchester United an Chelsea have done in recent years.

"We want to be a big team in England. United have been there a long time and have that history, like Chelsea and even Arsenal," he said. "To be that big team we have to win trophies and do well in Europe -- so we need to keep momentum."

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