Yaya Toure says he tries not to listen to the press whenever he produces a below par performance.

The Ivorian midfielder is often used as the barometer for Manchester City with his top quality showings generally coinciding with victories for the club.

However, when 32-year-old Toure is not at his best, it often results in the Sky Blues experiencing a less than desirable result which often sparks antagonism from the media.

This does not sit well with Toure as he insists he is always attempting to bring his absolute best for the club he joined from Barcelona in 2010.

"I have been at Manchester City for five years now and I will always try to be at my best," he said at a press conference in Melbourne ahead of Friday night's clash with Real Madrid at the MCG.

"You have to understand, football is everything to me. Sometimes when I hear things from people who think they know football better than us, I don't want to respond.

"But I'm always looking at what's best for the club and playing at the top."