Manchester City defender Gael Clichy believes that Gareth Barry deserves great credit for enabling the players around him to shine.
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While Yaya Toure is often the central midfielder who gains the plaudits for his work in the City engine room, Clichy feels that it is Barry's effort that allows Toure to excel.
"Of course Yaya is impressive, but it's always the way in football that the players who score goals or make a difference in the final third are the ones we look at," said Clichy.
"But without Gareth Barry, Yaya wouldn't be the same player.
"You have to give credit where it's due. Yaya is a great player, and that is why he played for a team like Barcelona and won the Champions League and everything.
"But it's like Zinedine Zidane - at the time he was playing for Real Madrid he had Claude Makelele behind him.
"We have to know the qualities in our team and of course we are happy to have Yaya but we have to give credit to the whole team because we play good football and are defensively solid."
While the 31-year-old may not get the praise he deserves, Clichy feels that the England international will not be too fazed as he is valued by the squad.
"As long as you know that people within the team respect you for what you are doing, I am sure Gareth is fine with it," said the Frenchman.
"Maybe it's for the media to put these guys in the light, because sometimes without Gareth Barry, City are not the same team.
"You have to give credit to players like that, and goalkeepers and defenders - but that is the way football is today, unfortunately."
Toure has galvanised City since his return to action following the African Cup of Nations, putting in two accomplished showings against Bolton and Blackburn.
"For us he is a different player, playing up front and creating chances," Clichy said of the Ivorian.
"He knows how to play, how to control the tempo as well, which is important in today's football. We are glad to be playing with him."
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