YAYA YAYA TOURE is Hoping the Shock Retirement of Alex Ferguson could Tip the Balance of Power in Manchester City’s Favour Next Season.

Manchester United fans are still coming to terms with the fact their legendary boss will n

ot be in the dug-out when the new season kicks off on August 17.

And City — who have battled it out with their neighbours for the last two titles — will keep their fingers crossed it marks the end of a glittering era at Old Trafford.

Toure is convinced United will still be a force next season.

But he knows Fergie’s departure will be a blow for the champions.

He said: “United are a great club and Ferguson is a big character there.

“He has built everything at United and the balance, I hope, will go to the City side now.

“We will see next year. There will be a lot of rivalry between Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and United.

“Tottenham are coming through and the Premier League is going to be very, very tough.”

City have a chance to confirm their own emergence as a major force in English football by picking up a third trophy in three years when they face Wigan in the FA Cup final at Wembley tomorrow.

And Toure said: “Every year is important for the club because we want this to be a big club. We let the Premier League trophy go to United but now we want to win this one.

“We must keep winning trophies — that is why I signed a new contract.

“I want to be part of the history of the club. We have already started that — we have already won some trophies.

“I hope there is going to be more, like the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.”

Toure, 29, was City’s Wembley hero two years ago as he scored the only goal in both the semi-final against United and the final against Stoke.

The midfielder said: “That one in the final was, for me, the most important strike because we could give silverware to the club and to the fans.

“That was the important thing we came here to achieve.”

City skipper Vincent Kompany (below) reckons the outgoing champs will be one of a few clubs who have a busy summer trying to close the gap on United.

The Belgian said: “You look at next season and it will be a good summer for the media in the sense that a lot of clubs have to become better and a lot of clubs are hoping for a better season.

“I have said that anyone who thinks the Premier League is going backwards is making a huge mistake.

“Next season will be harder than ever.” When City won the FA Cup in 2011 — and ended their 35-year wait for a trophy — United almost overshadowed them by clinching the Premier League a couple of hours earlier.

Kompany, 27, insists another Wembley triumph would not be eclipsed by Fergie’s departure and said: “Sir Alex has done great things for football and for Manchester United.

“Fair play to them but we are writing our own history.

“We can do that on Saturday again.”

A difficult season for City is almost at an end and Kompany believes it would put a different slant on it if they can finish with another trophy.

He said: “Winning this cup would be an incredible achievement after everything that has happened.

“You can look back on the season and say this went wrong or that went wrong. But in the future people will look back at the trophies you have won. The rest won’t matter.

“But there are two teams hoping for this and I have a lot of respect for Wigan.