Manuel Pellegrini insists Yaya Toure is happy at Manchester City.

Toure claimed in an interview this week that he deserves greater recognition from the media for his achievements at the club.

The midfielder told French newspaper L’Equipe he was not happy with the situation despite winning titles and earning lots of money.

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But manager Pellegrini has stressed it is important not to interpret Toure’s comments as meaning he is unhappy with life at the club.

Pellegrini said: “He says he is not happy about (not being) recognised, (so people say) he is not happy here. But he is happy.

“It is different to not be happy about the criticism or the recognition, than to not be happy. They are different words, you can interpret how you want but I think Yaya is happy here. He doesn’t have any problems.

“I don’t think I have to answer how important Yaya is. The answer is in his performances in the last four years. He always demonstrates it every game he plays.”

Toure is one of three City players to make the shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or along with Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne.

Aguero’s nomination comes after he scored 32 goals in 41 games for City last season and five in a match against Newcastle earlier this month before being sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Pellegrini said: “I don’t think it is surprising Kun (Aguero) has been nominated. It is surprising he has not had any awards here (in England) in the past. 

“He is nominated because he is working well and performing well, playing at the highest level all the time.”

Pellegrini was speaking aahead of tonight’s Champions League game against Sevilla. 

City go into the game level on three points with Sevilla in Group D, three behind leaders Juventus. 

The club’s home record in the competition is not impressive, with just three wins from the last 12 games, but Pellegrini insists that is irrelevant.

He said: “I don’t know the exact statistics but they are the numbers and of course we must improve.”