Carry on Captain!
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:38 pmKolo Toure will continue to wear the captain's armband, Mark Hughes has confirmed.
The news means that the defender will lead the Blues out at home for the first time against his old side Arsenal this Saturday, just a couple of months after swapping the Emirates for the City of Manchester Stadium.
Ivory Coast star Kolo skippered the Blues to wins over Crystal Palace and Portsmouth before the current international break, and he has clearly impressed his new manager.
“Kolo has taken the armband in the last couple of games, and I am very comfortable with that,” stressed the boss.
“There might be times in the season when we might ask people to take on the mantle and show the leadership qualities that a captain has to have, but I am very comfortable with Kolo having the armband.
"He has all the attributes that you need from a good captain. He has great enthusiasm for the game, he's vocal in the dressing room before, during and after games and he wants to drive the club forward. We're lucky that we have a lot of leaders in our squad."
“There were many candidates, Stevie Ireland really enjoyed doing it in pre-season, I am sure he'll be a City captain in the future and Vinnie Kompany impressed last year. It's pleasing that we have so many characters and personalities that could have taken over the role.”
Toure captained the Gunners on several occasions during his seven years in north London, but with the departure of Richard Dunne an opportunity opened up that his new manager sensed he would immediately take to.
“I saw those qualities from afar,” added the manager. “It was not until working with him that I really understood how Kolo conducts himself as a guy and as a player. Having worked with him for a couple of months now, I have seen his qualities on and off the field and we can use them for everybody's benefit.
“Our back four is full of strong characters and guys that want to win, and there are times when you need what I am looking for from more than one person. I am pleased that we have that in this squad. That is the big shift compared to the group we had last year and the one we have now.”
from the OS
The news means that the defender will lead the Blues out at home for the first time against his old side Arsenal this Saturday, just a couple of months after swapping the Emirates for the City of Manchester Stadium.
Ivory Coast star Kolo skippered the Blues to wins over Crystal Palace and Portsmouth before the current international break, and he has clearly impressed his new manager.
“Kolo has taken the armband in the last couple of games, and I am very comfortable with that,” stressed the boss.
“There might be times in the season when we might ask people to take on the mantle and show the leadership qualities that a captain has to have, but I am very comfortable with Kolo having the armband.
"He has all the attributes that you need from a good captain. He has great enthusiasm for the game, he's vocal in the dressing room before, during and after games and he wants to drive the club forward. We're lucky that we have a lot of leaders in our squad."
“There were many candidates, Stevie Ireland really enjoyed doing it in pre-season, I am sure he'll be a City captain in the future and Vinnie Kompany impressed last year. It's pleasing that we have so many characters and personalities that could have taken over the role.”
Toure captained the Gunners on several occasions during his seven years in north London, but with the departure of Richard Dunne an opportunity opened up that his new manager sensed he would immediately take to.
“I saw those qualities from afar,” added the manager. “It was not until working with him that I really understood how Kolo conducts himself as a guy and as a player. Having worked with him for a couple of months now, I have seen his qualities on and off the field and we can use them for everybody's benefit.
“Our back four is full of strong characters and guys that want to win, and there are times when you need what I am looking for from more than one person. I am pleased that we have that in this squad. That is the big shift compared to the group we had last year and the one we have now.”
from the OS