MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini has defended Yaya Toure over the Manchester City midfielder's angry reaction to losing out on the African Footballer of the Year award, saying it showed his "winning mentality."
Toure expressed his disappointment at failing to take the honour by saying the criteria to win brought "shame to Africa."
The 32-year-old finished second to Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but felt he should have won the award after his Ivory Coast side triumphed at the African Nations Cup, while Aubameyang's Gabon were eliminated in the early stages.
While Aubameyang said he won't let Toure spoil his achievement, Pellegrini backed Toure, who had won the Confederation of African Football award in the previous four seasons.
The City boss said: "He has a winning mentality and he always wants to win every award.
"I think that he won the last four years, I don't know what happened this year but I think it's important for him to try to be the best player every year."
Toure is set to return for City's Premier League clash with Everton on Wednesday after being rested for the FA Cup third-round victory over Norwich City.
The Blues are third in the Premier League but a win over the Toffees could see them return to the top if other results go their way.
And Pellegrini said was it vital to close the gap on their rivals as soon as possible.
"It's important to try to reduce the gap as soon as we can on the two leaders, Arsenal and Leicester City," he said.
"But we are not going to win the title in January. I think it's important to be solid and a consistent team from now until the end of the season.
"[There are] so many examples of teams that had the title in their hands in April, they lose important points and after that they don't win the title.
"So it's important first to reduce the points that we are behind them and after that try to be a solid and consistent team."