Yaya Toure fears Manchester City could struggle next season if key issue is not addressed

Yaya Toure has warned Manchester City could struggle next season if they are not more ruthless in front of goal given how their adventurous set up play can leave them exposed defensively.

Pep Guardiola repeatedly bemoaned City's wastefulness in front of goal last season and Toure believes his side may run into difficulties next term if that does not change with the manager committed to playing firmly on the front foot.

"I think we are a team that creates more chances than the rest, but our finishing was not so strong last year," the midfielder said after Friday's 2-0 defeat by derby rivals Manchester United in Houston. "Against United we showed that.

"We need to start the season quickly. If we have the chances we have to score. We have to show that killer instinct and be more clinical. When the chances come we need to score.

"It's the job of the manager to find the right team and right balance as well because we are very wide and open when we play. You saw this against United, two or three counter attacks and they scored two goals.

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"We player proper, classic football, but sometimes if we don't score then it is going to be difficult."

Guardiola is about to take his spending on three full backs to a staggering £130 million as Danilo and Benjamin Mendy follow the signing of Kyle Walker and has also committed £35 million to sign goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, who endured a torrid debut against United when his mistake led to Romelu Lukaku scoring with a sublime finish.

The City manager plans to add a centre half, too, following the departure to Roma of Aleksandar Kolarov, who would have provided cover in central defence and at left back.

It means City will have virtually a whole new defence next season but Toure believes the new signings will have to settle quickly after admitting the midfield can be "very open" and claiming opponents have become better versed in Guardiola's methods.

"I don't know what is going to happen but we have to show better quality, try to finish games because sometimes we have five, six chances to score goals and maybe we concede two, three goals because we are very open," Toure added. "The games can be very fast and other teams learn how we play, but everybody is excited."

Toure, 34, was the only one of six out of contract players to be retained by City at the end of last season, a dramatic turnaround from 12 months earlier when he was exiled by Guardiola and appeared to be on the way out.

But he fears City could embark on another overhaul of the squad next summer if players fall short of expectations next season.

Asked if Guardiola has to win something after a trophyless past campaign, Toure said "It's the same for the players as well, because if we don't then we will be removed very quickly.

"City is now a club that has to win something every year. "I don't want to say how many trophies we have to win, but it's important to say we have to win something.

"I think in the last three or four years I always dealt with the doubts about my future with this club. But I've proven that I want to win. In the last two years we've not been able to win too many trophies and it's been quite difficult.

"So I think this year we have to do something because we know most of the teams in the Premier League have a lot of money and are very strong.

"People have been close to (writing) me off. But I was not close to leaving. I was delighted to stay for one more year."

Asked if he now expected to see out his career at City, Toure added: "That's why I signed one more year. Let's see what happens."