Numerous celebrities have attributed Yaya Touré with bringing about a positive transformation in their sporting careers. However, the situation with the Manchester City icon has been rather unique. Their association did not start or end well. Now, a revered figure from Chelsea has disclosed what might have caused their strained relationship.
Undoubtedly, both individuals achieved remarkable success during their respective tenures. Now, let’s delve into the account shared by the legendary Blues figure regarding the City coach and former Sky Blues icon.
Throughout his managerial journey, Pep Guardiola has consistently surprised with his on-field and off-field choices. One such decision was when he deployed Yaya Touré as a center-back in the 2009 Champions League final for Barcelona against Manchester United. Reflecting on this, Chelsea legend John Obi-Mikel recently expressed that the decision did not catch him off guard. Speaking on the Obi One podcast, he remarked, “That was a thing. I mean, you could sense there was something. But, of course, when you play under Pep, you have to adhere to his instructions, because if you don’t, you won’t make the team, which he did for the club. Naturally, you had the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets in the midfield. There’s no arguing with that.”
Although the Ivorian legend played the third highest number of games in his career under Pep Guardiola, their relationship remained unstable. It was evident that Touré did not relish his role as a center-back. Consequently, the following season saw him move to Manchester City after billionaire and current Vice President of the UAE, Sheikh Mansour, assumed ownership of the club.
There is no denying that their relationship has been incredibly complex. However, in recent times, Yaya Touré has made an effort to enhance his communication with the Spanish coach.
Pep Guardiola was also reunited with his former Barcelona player at Manchester City. Unfortunately, an interview went viral in which Yaya Touré suggested that the Spanish coach harbored biases against African players. A year ago, the City legend clarified that the interview was taken out of context, and he had already apologized to the 53-year-old after its publication.
Last year, Touré’s former agent also revealed that Pep Guardiola was not plagued by any negative sentiments towards African players. According to the ex-City midfielder, such a curse did not exist.
Manchester City supporters will undoubtedly hope for a reconciliation between the two on amicable terms. Do you believe Yaya Touré will eventually replace Pep Guardiola as the manager of Manchester City? Share your thoughts in the comments section.