Players feel pressure as season culminates: Kolo Toure

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has admitted that the club and the players are feeling more pressure as the season is reaching its culmination point.

The Ivory Coast star believes Roberto Mancini's men need to show they are mentally tough enough to become champions.

"We've not been very good in the first half in either of our last two games. I don't know why we are doing that. It must be the mentality. The season is very long, there is a lot of pressure. Maybe it is that," The Sun quoted Toure, as saying.

"But there is no excuse, we knew this season would be difficult. The most difficult time is now because we are closer to the end of the season. These are the most important games," he said.

City's season nose-dived over five days as they crashed out of Europe and surrendered top spot in the table to Manchester United by losing at Swansea.