Manchester City defender Kolo Toure believes that he and his teammates will face a tough challenge trying to retain the Premier League title this season.

The North West outfit, who clinched the elusive trophy in dramatic fashion following a last-gasp winning goal from Sergio Aguero on the final day of the season, begin the 2012-13 campaign with a home fixture against newly-promoted side Southampton on August 18.

"It will be difficult defending because every team will come down and look to beat us," Toure told Sky Sports News. "But when you're champion you need to behave like a champion and take it game by game.

"The confidence is here, everyone now just wants to win and when you win once you want to win every time and City now wants to win every season.

"We know how to win and now we have to work hard and give 100% every game, the Premier League is the hardest in the world and five or six clubs could be champion and for us we will just focus on us and do our best."

Meanwhile, reports have claimed that the Ivory Coast international could be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium following interest from Barcelona.