Despite his team's 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in the opening group stage game of the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure claimed the result would ultimately help his club's march to the championship.

"We played against a fantastic team," Toure was quoted as saying by Skysports. "Real Madrid have a big history; they're a major club."

"It was good for us to play against them," the Ivorian star said. "We're continuing to learn how to play in Europe. We have a lot of young players, so I think it was good for us, even though we lost."

He added: "We have some important games coming up. It's very important for us to get to the second round this year."

The 29-year-old midfielder believes that, after the narrow loss to Real Madrid at the start of the Champions League Group D, Manchester City will be in a strong position should they make it to the knockout stages.

"We have to keep improving, keep working hard, and next time we'll be better," Toure said. "We have a fantastic squad and a fantastic manager. In a couple of months, I think we'll be better."

The English Premier League champions are scheduled to host Dortmund in their next Champions League game in a fortnight's time.

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