TOURE IN NEW BLAST AT PEP: THE HYPOCRITE COULDN’T BOSS A SMALL CLUB
Toure in new blast at boss as he rants over his City farewell and insists Guardiola is not a managerial genius like Zidane
YAYA TOURE has branded Pep Guardiola a “hypocrite” after the Spaniard’s gushing farewell message last month.
The 35-year-old Ivorian midfielder, who has accused Guardiola of racism, is now a free agent and said: “He was a hypocrite when praising me, but I let him say what he had to say.”
Ahead of Manchester City’s last game of the season against Brighton, Guardiola insisted he was sending the side out to win for Toure. The City boss said: “We will give him what he deserves, one of the most beautiful farewells a player can receive. All the game we will be focused on winning the game against Brighton for Yaya, and we are going to try to do it for him.
“Yaya Toure came here when the new era of the club started, and what we are in this moment is thanks to what this guy has done.
“We cannot forget the period under Roberto Mancini, and especially Manuel Pellegrini – Yaya was the key, key, key, key, key, key player. That’s why we are delighted to prepare for Sunday’s game, for our celebration, and after for Yaya.”
But Toure, frozen out from the first team by Guardiola, said: “I would have preferred to have no ceremony and leave with my head held high.
“The worst thing is that towards the end, I felt happy to leave because of my frustration and my sentiment of abandonment and neglect. If I shed a tear when saying goodbye to the fans, it’s because of the way things broke down and because I couldn’t bear to see that guy any more.”
Toure has also questioned Guardiola’s status as one of the world’s best coaches.
He added: “He didn’t invent the Barcelona we know. He just had the intelligence to adapt what was put in place by Johan Cruyff before.
“Then at Bayern and City, he tried to reproduce the same principles, while working with ‘his’ players and with unlimited means. It wouldn’t work at Crystal Palace or Watford.
“For me, Zinedine Zidane (left) is the best because he has fewer demands and shows great respect for his players. I also like Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.” Asked what he will take from Guardiola when he becomes a coach himself, Toure went on: “His theory on the sport, of course. But careful, that doesn’t mean he’s a genius, like Zidane.
“Pep wants to come across as a genius. He loves that. But behind that, it’s an act, it’s nonsense. He’s creating a persona.
“When I see him scratching his head during matches, it makes me laugh. It could be a comedy or PR simply.
“If we didn’t get along well, it’s because I had caught him out.
“But unlike my big bro Samuel Eto’o, I haven’t said anything until now.”