Yaya Touré: The Dressing Room Standards That Turned Man City Into Champions (E402)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Yaya Touré – The Dressing Room Standards That Turned Man City Into Champions

Podcast: The High Performance Podcast
Episode: Yaya Touré: The Dressing Room Standards That Turned Man City Into Champions (E402)
Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes
Guest: Yaya Touré

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Episode Overview

This episode features legendary footballer Yaya Touré, famed for his transformative influence at Manchester City and Barcelona. Yaya speaks candidly about the transition from elite player to aspiring manager, the psychological impact of retirement, and the leadership standards that changed the culture at Manchester City. He shares personal stories, managers’ influences, and the non-negotiables that shaped winning teams. The conversation is rich with insights into motivation, mentality, and football’s deeper life lessons.

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Main Themes & Key Discussion Points

1. Transitioning from Footballer to Manager

• Yaya’s Next Step: Now aspiring to become a head coach, having already gained experience as an assistant (00:17).
  • “I've been assistant for a few years with different clubs and different coaches and I think now I'm looking to become a manager, a coach, if you can say that.” — Yaya (00:17)
• Lessons as Assistant: Realized the breadth of responsibility beyond the pitch, particularly the importance of managing personalities and wellbeing (00:49).
  • “Being a staff member is good, but being a head coach is something else because you have a lot of things to deal with… it's incredible.” — Yaya (01:38)

2. Life After Retirement: Loss and Identity

• Coping with Change: Yaya’s honest admission of emptiness when not involved in football (04:04).
  • “Sometimes you feel like I feel empty. I need to do some stuff, I need to be involved.” — Yaya (04:23)
• Adapting: Lacked full preparation for the psychological void retirement brings (04:59).

3. Dressing Room Standards and High Performance Culture

• Creating a Winning Environment: Inside a “Yaya Touré-managed dressing room”—focus, respect, dedication, and passion (09:52).
  • “Now those days, the players need more than motivation, right? You need to be up them, make sure they understand why you want [something]… so many distractions around at the moment.” — Yaya (10:19)
• The Influence of Social Media: New distractions and pressures for today’s players (10:40).
• Team Identity: Advocates for expressive, attacking football with defensive discipline, but prioritizing player freedom and enjoyment (11:52, 13:00).

4. Humility in the Managerial Journey

• Starting from the Bottom: Despite elite status, believes in “respecting the process”; starting at a lower league if needed (16:43, 18:28).
  • “I was not ready for that. Deal with... the business with some players and dealing... on the pitch and [off]. For me, was not the time for that.” — Yaya (18:47)
• Continuous Learning: Open to self-critique and improvement over time.

5. Influences from Iconic Managers and Teammates

• Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona: Life-changing moment when Rijkaard used a 20-minute video session to quietly show Yaya his positional mistakes (22:29).
  • “Since that day, I never talk again anymore. I was blow up.” — Yaya (23:03)
• Pep Guardiola’s Emotional Motivation: Pep’s motivational video before 2009 Champions League final focused on brotherhood, not goals; players were emotionally moved (39:41, 41:54).
  • “It wasn't a film of your greatest goals… it Was a video of you as brothers, fighting for each other.” — Host (41:54)
  • “Fighting for each other… sometimes emotionally it works. And that's chapeau. Chapeau. It was really good.” — Yaya (42:00)
• Role of Teammates: Cites Xavi, Puyol, Eto’o, and Messi as models for professionalism and mentality (30:11, 31:53).

6. Mentality Shift at Manchester City

• Initial Shock & Culture Gap: Players at City were relaxed about losses—an alien mentality for Yaya coming from Barcelona, where even draws were unacceptable (51:47, 53:30).
  • “Even after a draw, if a player laughed on the plane, the media kill him and the players… said, you can't do that.” — Yaya (52:00)
• Contaminating the Group with Winning Mentality: Together with Silva and others, pushed for higher standards; started with small group, eventually spread to entire squad (56:34, 58:58).
  • “Slowly we start to contaminate most of the players.” — Yaya (57:36)
• Crucible Moment: Physical fight at halftime in 2011 FA Cup semifinal (61:00–64:35).
  • “We were fighting because we knew. We were like scared… after that, when we come to the second half, we see a new Man City.” — Yaya (61:45)
  • “From that day, believe me, after that… we start to be machine. We enjoy winning and we start to have this feeling like when we lose game, we like, we like not happy.” — Yaya (64:35)

7. Memorable Moments and Quotes

• The Dream of Winning Manchester: Manifested the belief that Man City could surpass United (65:03).
  • “I dream and I believe one day Man City is going to be the best team in Manchester. I believe in a dream and that happen again.” — Yaya (65:03)
• Aguero’s Title-Winning Goal: Became part of history, even though injured, and describes how everyone at City felt united, purpose-driven (68:41–70:08).

8. Future Aspirations

• Managing Manchester City or Ivory Coast: Would be a dream, but respects that it is “too soon” and values the process (74:16–77:13).
• Core Motivation: Continues to be driven by challenge and passion.
  • “If you have… some objective, right. Some target in. In front of you. Because for me, without that, why are you doing that?” — Yaya (76:09)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On Retirement:
  “Sometimes you feel like I feel empty. I need to do some stuff, I need to be involved.” — Yaya (04:23)
• On Dressing Room Motivation:
  “Players now...they need more than motivation. You need to be up them.” — Yaya (10:19)
• On Humility as a Coach:
  “If I'm very bad. I cannot say. Okay, thank you. Bye. Bye. I'll go to the village and I just go back to my... longer holiday.” — Yaya (17:06)
• On Rijkaard’s 20-minute Video:
  “He let me watch…after I took my face to him, I was like, coach, yeah, but since that day, I never talk again anymore. I was blow up.” — Yaya (23:03)
• On Contaminating Man City with Winning Standards:
  “Slowly we start to contaminate most of the players…” — Yaya (57:36)
• On the Turning Point (FA Cup Semi Final):
  “We were fighting because we knew. …After that, when we come to the second half, we see a new Man City.” — Yaya (61:45)
• On Achieving Dreams:
  “I dream and I believe one day Man City is going to be the best team in Manchester. I believe in a dream and that happen again.” — Yaya (65:03)
• On Pride at Man City:
  “For me, the first trophy was the most important one. …I was feeling…I was describing myself as a winner…” — Yaya (71:18)
• On Future Ambitions:
  “Managing Manchester City one day… remains a dream for you. — Host (76:07)
  “We dream and at some point I just follow my dream and I respect my dream.” — Yaya (76:09)

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Key Timestamps (Useful for Quick Recap)

• 00:17–04:56 – Yaya on moving into management and the struggle with post-retirement life
• 09:40–13:51 – What a Yaya-managed dressing room would look like and stylistic philosophy
• 16:43–19:23 – Why he’s humble about starting at a lower level as coach
• 22:29–24:26 – Lessons from Rijkaard at Barcelona; critical self-awareness
• 39:41–42:20 – Guardiola’s motivational approach before the Champions League final
• 51:47–58:58 – Contrasting culture at Barcelona and Man City; the challenge of changing mindsets
• 61:00–64:35 – The pivotal, physical dressing-room confrontation at City and its transformative effect
• 65:03–68:28 – Beating Man United for the Premier League; mentality and preparation leading up to the title win
• 74:16–77:13 – Managing City or Ivory Coast as a dream; value of the process

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Conclusion

Yaya Touré’s journey illuminates the transition from star player to coach, the pain and growth in retirement, and the cultural changes necessary for elite sports success. His humility, honesty, and vision for leadership underpin a conversation full of lessons on preparation, identity, and team spirit—valuable not just for football fans, but for anyone interested in what it takes to build a winning culture.

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For listeners keen on understanding the mindset and behaviors that drive high-performing teams, this is a must-listen episode.

Transcript

[Host]

Yaya, welcome to high performance.

[Yaya Toure]

Thank you very much. Thank you. Pleasure.

[Host]

We've seen you as a player, we've seen you winning trophies, we've seen the success on the pitch, we've seen you working as an assistant manager in various countries, in various clubs.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

What's the next step for Yaya Toure?

[Yaya Toure]

For Yaya is going to his management. Now I've been, if I can say that I've been blessed playing football in a high level with the top clubs, with top players as well. And now what am I looking for is going to the management. I've been assistant for a few years with different clubs and different coaches and I think now I'm looking to become a manager, a coach, if you can say that.

[Host]

So what have you learned from your time as assistant managers in various places that makes you realise that now you're ready to be the number one, not the number two?

[Yaya Toure]

Something remind me when I was playing about playing times, when I tried to reflect, at some point I was like always thinking about me, right? What I'm eating, how I sleeping, how I'm resting. But going to the management as assistant, I remember one of the coaches, I have it, and it was Karl in Belgium, he was saying to me, yeah, I just want you to be close to the players, see how they feel, how they prepare, just support them monthly at some point. And I was like, coach, yeah, I'm coaching, right? Just in the field. And after all the field, I'm not really good at it. He said, no, you have to, because at some point, one day, if you are a coach, you have to control all these aspects because what is happening in the field is okay, you can deal with it. I think you have, you can do it. But outside the field is really, really important because now those days, the players are really different than your time. And I was like, yeah, I tried to. I started to just learn and walk around it and it was quite impressive. It was a very, very impressive because what, what did Carl did to me, it made me realize that being a staff member is good, but being a head coach is something else because you have a lot of things to deal with it and it's incredible.

[Host]

So are you sure you really want that? Because Damien and I were talking before you came in. Yeah, Yaya, you've got freedom.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

You've earned your money, you've won your trophies.

[Yaya Toure]

That's true.

[Host]

Why do you want to go back into the lion's den?

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah, that's a really good question. Because like I said before, to my close People around me, I said to them, because actually my kids two. I think one week ago, he saw me in my office, I was sat watching games and he was saying to me, dad, why are you sons? I said, no. He said, oh, yeah, I understand you've been working recently. Now you're not working yet, but it's like you want to go back again. Well, I think that is quite okay. Because when you look the Premier League sometime of championship or the league around the world, you see sometimes the manager been criticized very hardly. You know, the fans have been very rash to them. And I was like, kids, I don't know, I need to, you know, I need to get to something. And for me, football has been all my life during so many years, right? And I just, I like that, you know, be involved, participate. Of course, when you do something that matter, like football, for example, there's a lot of opinion up there, right? And you have to, if you embrace that, if you love that, you know what I mean? For me, you're blessed, you know, because in football, if you don't want to be criticized or if you don't want to get hit by a lot of opinions, you don't have to do that, right? But for me, I think my journey and my life, I think I need that, right? Because football for me is everything.

[Host]

I mean, this show is all about honesty and openness and vulnerability, all the important traits of a football manager. So with that honesty, like when you're not involved in football, when you don't have a job, is your son right that you're sad?

[Yaya Toure]

I think he's right because you can see me as well sometime at home. Because sometimes we don't realize when we are in the game, for example, when you out of it, or maybe you stop, oh, you retired, for example, like I am now. It's coming difficult, you know, you feel like, okay, how I gonna feel my journey or my day today? You just have to wake up, just have a work at home, maybe work out in the gym and nothing. Right. And for me personally, sometimes you feel like I feel empty. I need to do some stuff, I need to be involved. I need to, I don't know, I need to, you know, to feel myself because I've been doing those, this job for so many years, right. I think for more than 50, 60 years I've been in high level. And now doing nothing is quite, really, really difficult.

[Host]

Did you realize this is how it would feel in retirement?

[Yaya Toure]

I never feel, I never realized that and now I realize that a lot. Yeah. And that's like, it's not a shock. I was not, to be honest, I'm, I was not that surprised. I, I knew he's gonna come in at some point. But no like that because in my mind two years or three years before I retire, I was like, okay, you know what, when I finish football, I just go maybe a malo, maybe in highline diet, just relax myself. And you, I try to enjoy, you know, as much as can because it was too much, right? Games after games and national team traveling, all these things like that. It was very, very tough. But now I'm in. I think I feel like I'm not 50, I'm not 60. That's not for me, you know, I need to do something, I need to be involved again.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

So when people ask you what do you do? How do you answer that question?

[Yaya Toure]

Actually for me I find that difficult question and interesting question as well. Because as soon I had that kind of question. Most of the time I like, yeah, I need to give you answer. But what kind of answer should give? Because even when I was playing at the time, my pastime is most of time I'm reading books, watches movies because I'm a big fan of horror movies. Sometimes I say that to people. People like what? Why are you watching horror movie? I said no, because I need to this kind of aduladin, you know, be scared, be, you know, find my, be stable. Right? And at time as well. I like to have a workout outside, you know, walk around in the park, just enjoying being free. But to be honest, it's quite difficult. It's quite difficult.

[Host]

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[Host]

I think it's something that so few sports people are brave enough to talk about, which is exactly this. That.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

When you're in it, you're overwhelmed and you're exhausted and you're frustrated.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you want days off and you want holidays.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you just want all of the madness to go away.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

But the minute you retire, football carries on.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Life carries on, sport carries on. But not for you.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you can feel forgotten about. And I've spoken to sports people who say within days they feel like the football world has forgotten them. Does that.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah. You.

[Host]

That rings true for you.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah, no, that's. You're definitely right. I agree with you. Because even now I. I feel it, you know, because years ago, I think 908, nine years, nine months ago, I was like involved with Saudi as the assistant coach. Even I was not playing, but I was on the staff. But it's still same, Right. Because for me, live life without football is quite difficult. It's very, very difficult because all my minds, my brains, all myself, I've been putting in football. And even now, if you go, for example, my house or sit with me in the office, I have maybe four or five screens there. It's all football. Right. And my kids sometimes ask me, why do you focus on Papa? I said, no, let me leave me. I'm just focused on everything. But that's the reality, right. When you're in love with the games, you know, it's difficult to, you know, to move in from, from that.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

So take us into a Yaya toure managed dressing room.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

What would we see? What are the kind of behaviors that I'd indicate to an outsider that you've created a dressing room for a team that's going to win?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, depends, you know, is A focus, respect, dedication and passion as well. You know why? Because those days, the motivate players are more difficult than the past. And that's my opinion because I mean that my time, maybe some of the players I've been, I've been playing with and some have been come close to me, around me, we were, I can say we were quite easier. We understand a lot the games in term of we don't need to be motivated much. But you know what you're going to, you're going to Paras. We play United, we know what we're dealing with, right? And we know how we have to prepare. But now it's like. I'm not saying like it's different, but I'm saying like now those days, the players more, they need more than motivation, right? You need to be up them, make sure they understand why you want from 121 what you want. Sorry. And make sure as well they add it. Because it's so many distractions around at the moment, right, with the social media, with all these things around, it's quite more demanding for the, for the. In term of being staff or manager in that period than before. Because before I was, if you are remembering my remind myself when I was player, I don't need a lot from the coach to make me, to put me, to make me show I'm focused on. Now it's very difficult, right, because social media, you have fans, you have people interact with players easily now those days and actually now I have to be part of it because now we are owning social media, right? But I saying like now when you come in as a coach, you have to be more than, more than passionate, right? Because you're gonna try to unback all the players to follow your, you know what I mean, how you feel, how you see on the games. And now you need more than passion for me. That's what I think.

[Host]

And what sort of football would a Yaya Toure football team play?

[Yaya Toure]

People like good football, right? And of course when you see now the Premier League and The Premier League 10 years ago, maybe 20 years ago, is different. People are adapting, right? Because I think new coaches coming now with new philosophy. Because I remember when I was playing in Spain at that period, Premier League was very high, intensive contact, duos fighting and the best team winning because they have a different players, right? Or maybe they have two or three players make difference. Well now when I watch the games, it's more about teams, about positioning, moving as a group and it's different. Maybe in the future, maybe, maybe the football in the future may be different, right. Maybe we'll go backwards again in the 90s or maybe 80s, right, where he's fighting and fighting and all this. My game is going to be more like enjoying and make my players realize that football is something beautiful. And for me, when you put your feet in the pitch, you just have to enjoy and make the fans enjoy it.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

And what would the characteristics of the IR Toure team look like? How would you want them to behave and show up?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, no, because I like attacking football. Like fans was calling me before in the past, like, I'm lazy. Going forward I'm top, but defending I'm lazy. Is that true? That's why they fans and that's why people try to. You know what I mean? And defy me. Right? But I think, I think of course when I was young, because I always believe in that. Like football is about enjoying, right. You know, and people come and see. You have to have to be happy to see you. Right. They have to enjoy as well. Me, my team, the way they're going to look is going to look attractive going forward as well. Defensively, I have to be compact, really organized because it's not that easier. I'm not going to try to get individual and sense that you should do that, you should doing that. I would prefer them to express themselves in the best way.

[Host]

And will you pick yourself to play midfield?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, that's sometime to be honest. And that's. That's real. That's something I've. I remember when I was in academy at Tottenham, at some point when I was working with the young lads, some of them was like when we train away, maybe sometime in the training place when I train with them, I do some pass or some movement. The player was, oh, coach, I can do that as well. I look at them and say, no, you're not me. And that's how sometime now in the coaching environment, when you go into the coach, when you leave the pitch as a player, you go as a coach. You have to understand how to manage. And that sometimes is quite, quite difficult

[Interviewer/Analyst]

because many great players have tried to make that transition.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Be a coach and fail. So what are you doing differently that's going to give you a different chance.

[Yaya Toure]

That's why my venue to Tottenham and the academy to have a little bit of. Of view on that because it's really important because psychologically as well, the player have to understand you were. You are not the player anymore. You are the coach and you are the educator. Right? How you can make him Progress and better. You don't try to walk in on him and be like you because you are you, you are unique. He's unique and you want to help him to be at the best version he can be. Right. And the best way to do it is not too much interact. Because sometimes I see coaches try to tell him, the players do this, you should do that or do like that until it's not perfect the way like he's perfect for you, he's not good enough for him. Right. And he is as well. Because players some point they think a lot and they, they look like bit. I'm not, I don't want to say that they look a bit stupid, but they are not actually any, any message you pass to any players when you go to home, when you get at home, you're just thinking about it again and again because of course it's normal. Because you try, you want to develop, you want to be as best as possible. Well, it cannot happen in two days, right. It can take time, three months, four months. Why you should do you have to understand is not, it's not. It maybe not be as good as you, but at some point it's gonna achieve if you support and you carry on pushing going forward. I think that's the best way because to come back to your question is that I'm not trying to tell them I'm the best. I'm trying to tell them that they have to do the best they can and at some point they will achieve. Maybe take one month, two months, five months, one year. But they don't have to, they don't have to like, leave it. They just have to carry on doing again.

[Host]

And a former Manchester City midfielder, Frank Lampard, is currently managing in the championship and doing a brilliant job at Coventry.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Would you consider going to the championship or League one or League two level to begin your career?

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah, I think to beginning any, any, any, any step is going to be important. Right. At least is yourself starting putting yourself out there and trying, you know, because I know people sometime I've been, I've been met some people who ask me, okay, yeah, you want to manage a Premier League, you want to manage League One. I said no, I'm not seeing myself in that way. You know, I see myself on, on the development because now I need to learn, I need to develop, I need to try, you know, and of course me, I'm so honest. And people feel like, okay, you hard on yourself. I'm a nurse with myself. If he. At some point, I'm Very bad. I cannot say. Okay, thank you. Bye. Bye. I'll go to the village and I just go back to my. To my longer holiday. Right. But I need to try and try to. To do what I feel is right and make myself, you know what I mean, proud and make myself again involved in this, in this game, because I love it that so much.

[Host]

I think one of the most interesting things in the first 15 minutes of our conversation, though, is your humility. Like, you know, I was. I was hosting the games for BT Sport when you were dominating midfield at Manchester City, winning Premier League trophies, scoring incredible goals like you were the king of the Premier League in the seasons that, that I was working. And I will be honest, I thought when you came in today, you. You might say, look, I've won everything there is to win, so I need a top manager's job or I need to be at the biggest of the football clubs. But there's a real humility to what you're saying that you are like, this is almost a new Yaya Toure. It's not Yaya Toure the player, it's Yaya Toure the manager. And in the same way that your career started in an academy, you understand that your management career needs to start lower and progress.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly, exactly. Because for me is the key as well. Right? Because it's really, really important. Because. And that in that process, you don't need to just jump on it. Right. It's like, I think a few years ago was a opportunity of a job, I think, in Wigan and I, you know, I stepped down. I let that go because it was so. My opinion was a big mess. Right. There was so many things to deal with it and I was not ready for that. And that period, I was not ready for that. Deal with the. This, you know what I. With the business with some players and dealing with. And dealing the pitch and dealing out the pitch. For me was not the time for that. Right. I was focused on coaching only. And now with all the experience, I go from working around Mancini, around Kahala, around great coach, and the only way I think it makes me believe now is the time for me to start my own journey as a head coach and see how the life is going to give me.

[Host]

Maybe we can reflect then on some of the managers you've worked with and some of the big lessons that you took from your footballing career.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

To work out the kind of manager that you're going to be. I'd love to rewind to the time at Barcelona. Yeah. And, yeah, Frank Rijkaard as your manager?

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah, I love him. I love him because I think the only. The highlight I can have for this man was brilliant because he was my. I don't see my prime time as age, you know, because I was 26, 27, going to 27. And when I. When I arrived from Monaco, I was playing like expensive football, like box to box, right? I was number 10. And by that period, I have a great manager. And there, Monaco, he was telling me, yeah, you know what? Go everywhere you want, run where you want. And I love that, right? Following the balls, going contra attack, get involved in the passing or scoring goals. I was happy with it. I was love it. And when I signed the bar, when Barcelona came, I. I was like, wow, that's opportunity. I cannot let that down, right? And okay, you know, I was young, you know, and I love trying because I'm a curious person. And Barcelona, for me was huge, right? Ronaldinho, Samuel, eto. When I was. I was. I was hearing that Thierry is going to join us all, and I was like, why not? And when I arrived there, the first meeting I have with Rykard was he set up the team 4, 3, 3. And he said to. To play. And I was sewing, I was. I was seeing Xavi moving around. Xavi moving everywhere. Start moving everywhere. And that period was Deco, because in start coming later because. And I see Deco moving everywhere. And me, I was like, DP midfielder. And he was saying to me, yeah, don't move. Stay in there. I said, but in my mind, I was like, why are you saying that to me? Those are moving everywhere. Me, I have to say no. And I was following the balls because my mindset, I was like, you know, I was hungry, I was young. I want to run everywhere. I want to show up, right? Because among all this, superstar be coming to Barcelona, only me, I was coming from Monaco and no one's know who's Yaya, right? And I have to show up, right? To the fans, to the people, to the audience, everything. And. And like, I was like, yeah, no, no, good day. And he was always outside. He was in the dugout and was when he was shouting only my name, yeah, stay. I'm saying no. And one day, he was carry on repeating that, right? I was doing that all the time. And one day he picked me in his office and he said to me, yeah, look, sit, finish the training. He make a video of me 20 minutes. And that video sent me. Oh, like, I was blow up. Because I think it was the first time a coach take me that way and explain me how the game should be playing. I never realized that because I have, okay, no big experience. But I was coming from. I went to Belgium, I went to Ukraine, I was in Monaco, I was in grace before Monaco. And I have quite experience of the games. Right. And I understand a bit. But when he take me, he said, look, show me the video on me for 20 minutes.

[Host]

Did he talk or did he just let you watch the video?

[Yaya Toure]

He let me watch because when he was telling me sometime in the beach or in the beach, sorry, even in the. In his office when we were talking, I was arguing with him. I said, no, coach, I don't know, I feel like I'm not moving. You tell me I'm moving because actually I was like so energetic. For me, running, going back was easy. And he don't see that. And he was like, no, yeah, yeah, you should do what I said. I said, no, coach, I understand, but I want a bit to touch the ball. He said, but you cannot because your position is a key on the field. Because we attack with so many players, we can leave this space. I said, no, coach, you're wrong. I think you're wrong. And 20 minutes he put me in the videos and he said, I said, coach, I should say something. He said, no, watch the tv. And I watched him. He said, and after I took my face to him, I was like, coach, yeah, but since that day, I never talk again anymore. I was blow up.

[Host]

I love the fact that the coach like Frank Riker didn't feel the need to speak.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

And I think that's such a great lesson for any manager. You don't always have to talk.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly, exactly. And that's what it make me change my mind. And going to the management now, because sometimes when I. When I remember when I was in academy with always when I was working as assistant, sometime I tried to, to explain to the players like, you have to do that you're going to be better in that way. Oh, this one is. You don't need to do that. You did too much was like, look at me. Why are they trying to say. And I was thinking about. I said, yeah, Jesus, now I understand now because now I'm in this position. Understand it was incredible.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

But what really fascinates me on that is what you said that preceded it. So you've played in Greece, you played in Belgium, you've come from Monaco and you turn up at one of the biggest clubs in the world and your mindset is, I want them to see me. Where does that confidence Come from. Because I imagine lots of players would think I'll play cautiously, I'll play my way into it. And you're going, no, no, I want to take risks. Describe where that comes from.

[Yaya Toure]

Well, I think me, I've always been a type of players who have passion, of course, but as well, I'm not afraid, right? Not afraid. Make mistakes. I'm not afraid to do something wrong because it's normal. It's human being. Right. You can. We all make mistakes. Right. But at some point, when you're on the biggest stage, if you play with. With. If you play with. I think if you play and you. You have to lock yourself because you want to look good and look. No expends yourself. Right. For me is a waste. Right. Because, for example, imagine even you tell me this question. Imagine myself playing a cup now or in the Bernabeu and try to hide. You know, that was my mentality. Because my mentality was someone who tried to show off like, I'm here. I'm not the best. I'm not Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo or Iniesta, for example, Xavi Bo. I'm here to read. I want to show off to the people that I'm capable. I can play football as well. And that's what that was all about me.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

So when you would make a mistake on a big stage like that.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Tell us about how you would deal with it then.

[Yaya Toure]

Oh, it's difficult. This is really, really difficult. Because that. I remember when I was playing Barcelona, I remember one time we played in 2009, we played the final against Manchester United and we played Room. Yeah. This one. This one was one of my. The time I was like, before the game, the day before the game, I think I slept only two hours because I was thinking because playing Rooney, playing Berbatov, playing Cristiano Ronaldo geeks was there and it was a big United. I think I remember only Fletcher didn't play that game because it was a red card. Right. Suspended. But that game, I remember two days. Oh, no. One week before. I think we have a. We have some player who's like, suspended. Was Alves suspended? Abidal suspended as well. And Marquez was injury. And we have to reship. And that time Guardula have to reshape the defense. And he was thinking, who's gonna play in defense? And the coach coming to me and said, you can play on defense. I said, oh. Because me, I was like, you know, very open, excited when you tell me. Because it's not like I love problems when Things come in with no solution. I always find myself as a solution. But when I say that to him is after two days later, I was like, geez, maybe I think I make a mistake there. I cannot go back to it. I cannot tell him, like, look, Coach, maybe we can try someone else there. Maybe I don't know. And I remember that time Samuel was on me for four days, say, yeah, you want to play defender? You know, in Barcelona, if you will lose the game and is your mistake, your career can be ruining.

[Host]

That is the least helpful advice ever from Samuel.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly. And that was something like. After that was like, yeah, what am I doing? How I can change? Maybe I may get sick or, you know, run from the game. But at some point was something, you know, was so delighted when we in winning the end. Because I feel that the help, the support. Because in the bad period when the old my teammate was looking who's gonna play in the back? Who's gonna play central back? Piquet was there. Puyol have to play right back because Alves was suspended. And we don't have any left back. Right back, left. And then the left back, Abidar was suspended. But civilian played that game. And Seville can play that. And it was like, only me or Busquets or Seru Keita can play in there. But Seruqueta, when the question was asked, he said, me, I'm not involved. No, when he look at Busquet, he was looking somewhere else. And it was me like, yeah, but okay, what am I doing? Wow. It was incredible. It was incredible.

[Host]

And how long after the whistle blew at the start of the match did that fear disappear for you?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, is that they came when we. After five minutes. I think I remember because it's like it was yesterday, because that was my brain, because that's the game who marked me for a long period because it was beautiful first. And it was the first final I played in the Champions League. For me was all dreams. Right after five minutes, I think Piquet got the ball. I think it was not. I think we were keeping the ball. We lose the ball in the middle and Ronaldo run that way and running other side. And Piquet was running. And I think I. I slept a bit and Piquet recovered from me. And after that I get the ball and I said, oh, yeah, yeah, don't worry, I'm here, I'm gonna support you. After that moment, I feel like, yeah, I think I have the support. And Puyol after that came close to me, say, yeah, relax, don't worry, it's okay, it's a game, don't worry, we're gonna deal with it. But anything if you go, we cover you. And after that I get on with it.

[Host]

So those leaders in the team definitely stood up for you in that moment.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly. That's why sometime, sometimes when I get the question from your youth with experienced players, that's how experienced players make the difference in youth, right? Like those young, they cannot deal. Sometimes it's difficult for you to deal with this kind of manner. You need someone with experience and you know, with the. You know what I mean? This kind of control and feel self confident coming close to you. Say, oh, no worry, guys, we are there.

[Host]

Who of all the players that you played with at Barcelona is the one that you reflect on now and think they were just the greatest? Is it Lionel Messi?

[Yaya Toure]

I think most, most of them, right? Messi was. Messi was younger than me, but he was so quiet. He's so quiet. So quiet. I don't say like he don't care. He loves football, right? And he loves Barcelona. And he's the guys who listen, give me the ball and make the difference. That's how he. You can see. That's how I see Messi, right? But the one where a lot of time, most of the time I reflect on them or I see them, I like. Yeah, I take a lot of his advice. Even now, even when I'm. When I stop playing, when I come in coaches now, you know, Xavi was really an example, Puyol was an example, Samuel Oto as well, one of them, you know, because those guys, they actually, they were actually. Teammate were all teammates, right? But actually those guys was. They see so many things were in the game and they be all the time in this kind of stage, you know, and high level for so many years. Then the standard, what that. What. What demands and what needs to be something to be done properly in the games, right? And for. For me, those, Those people have been. If I can say that maybe my, My, my. My movement, my. My time in Barcelona was really useful for me. After that. You can see when I come to Man City, what happened after. Because that was the impact I got when I went to Barcelona. Those players, how they impact me positively, make me carry on again when I come to Man City, that's what I try to impress a bit. But of course it was huge player there as well. Patrick Vieira, my brother. But it helped me a lot.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

So beyond the tactics and the ability to recognize your position on the field that Rijkaard taught you what were the characteristics that you took away from your time at Barcelona that we would have seen playing out later in your career?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, I think for me, I always love, of course, I love spins. I love Spain football, right?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Yaya Toure]

But I'm not anytime. Because for me, football, of course, you cannot have. You can have the parasm, you can have the position, right? Because me, I love to have the ball. Yeah, I would love my team to have the ball. But no, at any. No I. No others, no other waste. If you can say that. I explain myself like sometimes you can find a team who pass the ball, to pass the ball. But you need to pass the ball for one purpose, right? To score goals, right? Because on the end of the day, you can have the ball for maybe 90 minutes, right? But at the end of the day, the fans gonna ask, what was the score, what was the goal? You know what I mean? Who score, who win it, right? For me, that's the point. Keep the ball and to make, to make something real, right? Try to, you know, try to annoy the opponent, try to make them try to hurt them. If you can say that, right? Make sure we get the ball to create chances and score goals. That's what I mean. That's what I think.

[Host]

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[Host]

We're going to talk in detail about your time at Manchester City. Yeah. When you lit up the Premier League. Before we walk away from the Barcelona conversation, you said that Leon Messi was quiet.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

And he was younger than you.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Do you remember the moment that you realized actually how good he was as a footballer?

[Yaya Toure]

And the final of Champion League 2009 against United. Why? Okay. Samuelsko scored the first goal and he scored the last goal. Boy. Actually was between. No, not between. Yeah, yeah, we are between Ferdinand and Vidic. Because Ferdinand, Vidic, wow, what a two defender there was massive, you know, strong, good. And. Yeah, and Messi scored a goal with the head also, you know, and it was Van der Sandego. And it was incredible. And why they did that game in 2009 against United was incredible because sometime actually United, there was a United that better, right? Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, they were incredible going forward. Defensively, they were top team, right? And all the time when we get the ball to Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, because at that period I was defender, I was playing with Piquet and Puyola in the back, who were like OGs. Guys, we can breathe. Give the ball to those ones. And I remember in the dressroom, the manager will say like, guys, when we get the ball, we don't try the defender away. We get the ball, we have to give the ball to Iniesta, Ochavi, Missi. They have to get the Ball and Messi at some point, that's how after people were talking about it, Force 9 because he was moving everywhere. Sometimes he leave this space. And that's where I think Ferdinand and Rio was confused because they used to have a number nine like that. They feel like, yeah, they have to stand the position because Messi was just, just leaving his position. They don't know how to do it. That means sometimes we end up four or five v two or three in the midfield against United. And United they don't know how to handle because the defender, Vidic and Fedina, one of them was not following the middle. And that's why we make the difference. And we just reckon that straight away when we play after 10 minutes we reconda. We said to me, he dropped and he dropped by himself. He f the game by himself. And he was perfect.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Like he's famous for his scanning. You know when you see Messi now, where he spends the first 10 minutes of a game just walking and observing.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Was he doing that even at a young age?

[Yaya Toure]

I think that's what I said to the youth all the time when I would present when I was in Tottenham, for example, enjoy my time there in academy. That's why I say it, because a coach or a staff, when you look at the midfielder, but I mean, midfielder was my position. I love this position I play in there. And I love creative players and great players. Right. For me, good midfielder have to be able to scan maybe four or five times before receiving the ball. Why? Because give him time. He make understand where the game is going to be or the game where the game should be next and the next step. And that's how I feel. The midfielder is clever, smart. Because imagine a player like. Because you guys never. You met Xavier Inesa, right? Personally, yeah. You see how small they are. Imagine this kind of player play close to Kompani, for example. Kompani is huge. And those players, when we play, for example against English team, for example, I think where United Paris and we play, he play Chavin. Yesterday they play against Carrick. But schools were small, but it's quite bigger for them because they were smaller than even Messi. But that's how good they are, how clever they are. Because first of all, when you scan, you avoid contact first. Second, you understand what is going around you, even in your back. Because most of the players now they rely on the physique, the ball before coming, when he receive, he just put his head up. But those players, Xavi Iniesta, they are the king of a even Messi, you have to scan before receiving the ball is so important. But somehow players, still. Players don't get it. But anyway, it's the Fango. You have to walk in daily day on that.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

And can I ask you about. There was a motivational video that Guardiola played before that 2009 final?

[Host]

Yeah, tell us.

[Yaya Toure]

Well, I think. I think that. I think that's. We don't say I think that's it. Bring up this kind of video. Bring up all your emotion, right? Because in that sense of when I see myself and that, for example, I will tell you the way I see it, because on that period when I was in Barcelona, when I see that, I was like. Emotionally, I was like, hi. When I say hi is that positive way, right? Because I was like. You speak with the guys, analytic guys, they take a video. They take in all the seconds of the season of each of the players or the teammate overview as well. And they make a nice graphic for 10 minutes. For us, it was beautiful. It was something amazing. Because you see, for example, Xavi is small. He fights, he gets scratched. After he talk, after you see Samuel to fight on there and me are coming cover it. All this seconds of video, you will show it in this moment. And we're all in the dressroom, sat and then watching there. We were like. And I remember in the end of that tour, player was like. They were crying. Were you crying? Me? I'm not quite.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Come on. He was crying.

[Yaya Toure]

Some of the player was crying. Even me, I was. I was laughing. But in the same way as well. It was like, all positive, right? We were like, jesus, we need to fight for each other. And when we fight for each other, because the video was saying that what people don't see, he sees. Oh, the manager, the staff, even the guys from the analytics, right? And sometimes even me as well, one way. But I said, when your game, the action is going, I fight on there. After that, when the ball go there, you have to follow. Sometimes you see your. You don't see your teammate there. He's struggling. He fighting, coming back or his injury fighting and those things. They put that all on the light. And that was for 10 minutes. And we were like, oh, geez, Xavier, I love you. Yes, I love you. You know what?

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[Yaya Toure]

And we go fight together anyways. It's brilliant. It's so good idea. Yeah.

[Host]

So the film that Pep had put together for you the night before the Champions League final, it wasn't a film of your greatest goals and your greatest passes? No, no, it Was a video of you as brothers.

[Yaya Toure]

Exactly.

[Host]

Fighting for each other.

[Yaya Toure]

Fighting each other, Fighting for each other. And that was, I think for me, that was a fantastic idea. And in the end of the game, after, before going to the pitch, after the videos, he didn't say nothing. And we knew what we have to do. Fight for each other and care for that. Because even in the mountain, we saying that if we fight together, we can achieve. And that's brilliant. Sometime emotionally it works. And that's chapeau. Chapeau. It was really good.

[Host]

How painful was it when it became clear to you that you had to move on from Barcelona?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, it's tough because, you know, Barcelona is not Barcelona. It was not like it was not the clubs. I was thinking like playing one day and leave Barcelona was from young. Because I think I remember one of my brother have the video. We have the clips of me when I was in academy and Ivory coast saying, like, if I grow, my dream will be to play Barcelona. If you don't play for Barcelona, that means I didn't play football. And that's on the record. I think my brother have that. Not Colo, but another one. Because I was very young. I think I was like 10, no, 12, 13, something like that. And I was seeing those kind of things already, because in that period when we were in Ivory Course, Canal plus was like a big equivalent of Sky Sport here, for example, or bt, for example, Every week we watch games. And me, I was big fan of Barcelona, right? When I was selling Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario, the one Brazilian one taking the ball, dribbling, everyone just contact. It was incredible. And me, I fell with her, you know, because the technicity, the way they were playing. And that's what we were doing in academy when I was young, trying to play football, attractive games, position, score, humiliate the opponent, our opponent. That's what. When I saw Barcelona, I was in my mind like, wow, when did you

[Host]

realize that you had to leave?

[Yaya Toure]

I think I realized when. When I start to get less time. Game time was coming difficult because as an elite and as a. As a player, when at some point you start to fail, you have less time on the pitch, it starts to be difficult, especially when you are young age. And me myself in that period, I just want to show to the world, for example, because I know when Barcelona play Real Madrid is the game, everyone want to see it. And me, when my family, for example, back down in Africa, all my parents in the village where they were, when they watched, they say, oh yeah, we See you. Because I know when we play Real Madrid, we see. Because like I was saying to most of some of them, like, if I play in Barcelona, I want you people to watch at me because I'm gonna make the difference. And then. And that's when I start. My gay time was reduced, I think considerably, to be honest. I felt very, very difficult.

[Host]

Did you ever go and see the manager and say, come on, play me?

[Yaya Toure]

At some point we did. I did. Some point I did. But after that is a football game, right? Because the games sometimes is very, very, very difficult. Right. And this industry all the time is challenging. Right, I understand. And at some point when you're professional, you have to respect as well your teammate, Right. If you don't get the sport, you have to know how to handle yourself, behave yourself as well. Because at some point you can. It's going to maybe can be waste, right. If you go and they challenge a coach, I think you don't need to eat because he's the one who make the decision and he's the one who make defense happening. Right. And as now becoming working as a assistant coach or coach. I understand that more what they mean now.

[Host]

And when you first walked through the doors at Manchester City, you know, they've become a great club, but at that time they didn't have the legacy that Barcelona had. They didn't have the trophies Barcelona had. How would you describe the culture when you first arrived at Man City?

[Yaya Toure]

Wow. It was. No, it was big. It was big, big difference, to be honest. Because from Barcelona to City and that period was like. It was like as soon I get in the training ground. Because at that time we were training in Carrington, the training was different. And I remember I was like. When I arrived in the training center, I said, that's where said, no, that's training center. I said, you sure? I said, well, that's what we're gonna train.

[Host]

What is it like?

[Yaya Toure]

It was smaller. It was very smaller. Normal, you know, normal training ground. Right. And as well. And as well in the presentation as well. I think Brian, my wood in that period as well. Tell me. Yeah, oh, yeah, don't think about that. It's not, it's not a problem. Because we are now planning to build a new training facility. And if we achieve, if we don't achieve, the investor are going to be like, we need to start to achieve, win trophies. And after that the clubs and the investor are going to start like, wait, you know what? Let's build a new training facility. And all was already planning. I Think BR will show me the map with the design. So. Okay, okay. And I remember when other players was coming, it was me talking to them. For example, to Samina 3 to some of the player. When they asked me, yeah, this is the training ground. I said, yeah, no, no, but it's a new one coming if you win.

[Host]

New training ground if you win. And what about actual training? I'm interested how that was different.

[Yaya Toure]

That's. This one is beautiful. It stops. I just. I just have the chance. I've been. I've been lucky enough to just use it. Before left Man City was nice. It's very, very nice. I think we have the. We have the room on there. You can still.

[Host]

Sorry, what act like when you first joined Man City, how different was training to Barcelona?

[Yaya Toure]

Ah, the training. Barcelona. Barcelona was huge difference because Barcelona was Barcelona and as well Barcelona, I think before I left because Barcelona, they think when I was there was using the cam node dressing room. Because we were training close to the stadium by close because we have a small pitch or we train in the stadium of Barcelona B or we train close because the camp. No, we have before in the past, we have a small pitch around. That's why sometimes the first team was

[Host]

preparing and not just the training ground, but what you actually did in training. How different was the actual training setup?

[Yaya Toure]

The training setup? Yeah, it was of course in Spain, Barcelona was always with the ball, right? And there was like. Because Barcelona, huge clubs, you play every three days and you don't have much to do, right? It was all position, it was all. Not a lot of tactic before games, possession, small games. And those players who are not playing regularly have to keep in fit, right? They have a normal session, but this session is not more than 50, 45 minutes. Even when I signed to Man City, I was thinking still I was going to United. It was incredible because. Yeah, because for me, because at that period, Barcelona and United, I'm not saying like they were saying, but that was like, you know what I mean? Where I should go normally. But after that I have to learn more about Man City, right? I have to get more about Man City. And my brother was sort of key person who make this happen with Mancini. Because at that time I was talking with him every time. Kolo was calling me every day because he know how dedicated I am, he knows how passionate I am. And that time when I was before coming, of course my brother was like one of the key member. Even if I can say that the one the first to make those kind of. For me to have my move to Barcelona, to City Appen Mancini was the second. But Kolo did a lot. He did a lot. He was like every day calling me and he was, I know you can't do it. But I said like Kolo, but of course I want to go and join because at that time I was of course United. United was not that much, but Chelsea was more. Chelsea was like with Druba in that time of period. But I end up going to Man City because like he said, because I'm not saying like when I was in Barcelona I get frustrated because. But is that Barcelona so many legends, right? And that kind of thing sounds well to me like oh bon clubs not disrespectful to Man City, right? They were winning trophy and a long time ago. But this now I think he's placed there, right?

[Host]

Could you have joined Man United?

[Yaya Toure]

Did.

[Host]

Did Man United want you at that time?

[Yaya Toure]

No. There was bit speculation was people talking about. Like I said he was right because people was talking about that and. And the newspaper looked like real. And me, I was like, yeah, okay. I talked to my agent, said United want me. He said, no. I said, but they're talking about it. He said, oh yeah, I leave it. He's Man City. And me, I was quite believable because at that period, it was after the World cup as well in South Africa and because when I left the camp, when we get pulled out on the first stage, I needed to sort out my contract quick and move on for holiday and just change my mind. Because at that period when I was in World Cup, I decided to leave Barcelona and we signed all the agreement in Barcelona and I need to sign now the new. And I was coming. I said, okay. I said to my agenda, my agent and that period I come into Manchester and I decide which one I go. And my brother said, no, Man City. And that's how I come in. I signed to City.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

And what about the mentality though? Because Barcelona have been used to winning the trophies. You've come from a Champions League winning team to a club that hasn't had that level of success.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

What was the difference there? And how did you see your role?

[Yaya Toure]

I explained you one thing. Like I remember one time. That's a story. No, it's not a story actually. It's a true thing. I remember one time we went to play against Valencia and we're in the plane with the no fans, with some journalists and some family member of the border and the plane going back to Barcelona and we drew in Valencia and we're coming back and I think in the return the plane was quiet. And I remember one of the players laughed in the plane and it was incredible. The guys who laugh on the plane after the draw, when we get back to the training the following day, the media kill him and the players as well, even the staff, the coach kill him as well. Said, you can't do that. And me, I was like, it's draw. He's not lost, right? It's okay. And Valencia is the top clubs in Spain. But that's how you have to understand who Barcelona was. Because this club, that's why they. They said mix. Okay, when you say Mexican club is law, right? It's a lot of things, everything are wrong of to be. But this club, actually people don't understand or realize it. But this team is incredible. You know, if you put them close to Madrid because Madrid have different way. But they. After all they are the same. And the term of the mentality Barcelona is. I can maybe say Madrid is you have to win, doesn't matter. But Barcelona, you have to win with the. With. They call it the way the manera in Spain. But you have to win with. With the good games, right?

[Host]

With style.

[Yaya Toure]

With style. Yeah. The fans have to enjoy. I remember one game we played in Barcelona, in Spain, I was. We were playing. We win three, four. Four. I think four one. But we were not playing good. And the fans just was booing and they take the. Yeah, they think like they were not happy. And that's how it is in other clubs. Fans will be like, okay, we take it, we don't care. 4 0, 4 1. Good.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

But Manchester City then when you went in there, what was the big difference of the mentality of the players?

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah, actually in the beginning when I arrived, I think we played games and we lost the games. We lost one games again. And we were coming back from London and they trained and I was seeing some. Most of the players was laughing and they trained and I was like, oh, I'll straight away remember. And I spoke with my brother in that period saying why they love we're losing, you know, he said, no, yeah, yeah, chill. I said, what Chill. If you. If you want to go another level where United are. Because that was my. In my mind, that was my target personally. And I was thinking all my teammate was following that way as well. Because of course Man City was starting to invest heavily in players. It's after when I arrived, even. Even as well. I remember that period. Silva as well was like confused. He said, well, yeah, we lose and they Laugh it. Because at that period when I arrived to Man City was me, Silva, Balotelli, Teves was already there. Jekyll come. Kolarov came as well. After that is not following like in yesterday, but that was later. But we were five player coming or six. We come and only me and Siva. Because we know the mentality in Spain. Because at that period, Valencia was top team in Spain. It was top three, top four, right? And yesterday Silva, he knows as well. And he came straight to me. Silva comes to me because, okay, we usually speak Spanish and because Silva was more Spanish, but. And he was like, yeah, but why did L. We lose 3, 0. And he didn't love it. I said, well, me too. I said. I called my brother. What. What's going on? He said, I know, chill in England's okay, we can lose. I said, no, but we lose another happy. And me, I was pissed. But that's how you have to. You know what I mean? Because we. After that, we have to understand at some point. But I didn't accept it because it's like I was coming to come to become what I don't want to be like fail. I'm not one to be a failure, right? Because I know a lot of people was, of course, look at me because they transfer the money was around. People was talking more about me, okay, come from Barcelona to City, what are you gonna do? And that's what I have my. No, I'm not saying my shoulder, but was looking like that way. And I was feeling a lot of responsibility, right? Bringing the team forward, try to help my teammate and try to share my experience I have in Barcelona with some of the players, make them going forward.

[Host]

So did you pull players individually and say, come on, this isn't good enough, or did you address them as a group?

[Yaya Toure]

Well, what I do, I was friends with some of them because actually I didn't take the position of the head coach on time. But because of Mancini. That Mancini was very aggressive. But Mancini, I love him. And what I do. Some of them what I was close. I was like, okay, try to express. Because me, I was feel a bit frustrated at some point, right? Because I have to be honest, because losing games, okay, you can lose games, right? We can know you win suddenly all the games, right? But I feel like we're in the beginning of something. And I. I was quite happy at some point with mentality of some players. But Tez was there. You know, Tez, how he is, how he was. You know, he. The guy like, he wanted like we call him Apache, you know, like that was his nickname. Yeah. He was like running everywhere, fighting. Even in the dressroom, when we play by, he was like, guys, you play by you, you, you, you, you. But he was incredible. And that was like, feel like, okay, I have someone who have shared something with me, right? Same desire, same passion. And Silva was same. And after that, slowly we start to contaminate most of the players. Because a lot of players was like, okay, Manchester, they're not there to be there, but they were there. But they was like, okay, we, okay, things can come in, no problem. Those ones are going to make a difference. But in the football games, you need the team, right? You need everyone to have the same way, seeing things, same mentality. And that's why I think we started after that we talked with the captain, with company. Can we have some dinner with the group? We start to know each other. We don't. Because I know sometimes it was quite difficult because some of the player was more Spanish way because they were talking more with them. We were different way. But me, I was between, right? Because I've been able to speak different. Lucky.

[Host]

There was little cliques and groups.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah. And it was some. Sometimes it's tough. But after that we have to join that back together. But it was not negative instinct. It's like you coming, for example, in France, you don't speak French, you go to the guy who speak the language. But sometimes I saw that a bit different. That's why I would start to make it more like a group involved with companion, getting some dinner together, spend time together with the family. It was always good.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

I love that phrase you use about. We started to contaminate the group. Was there a specific moment when you knew that this mentality of having to win had started to in fact the whole culture?

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah. Because I think for me that was the key. That was key. Because me, I was like that as well. Because I say the truth. When I was in Monaco, Monaco is not the team who used to win the front the league aim, for example, every year, right. And me, I was like type of person who like, like to enjoy football. I love the part when we win more than losing. Right? Because losing is not. Not for me. Right? Because in terms of when you go in the end of the season, you lose your bonus, you lose all the advantage you have when you're winning. Right. And from Monaco, when I went to Barcelona, those players like Xavi, like Lillian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Pujol, there was no place to laugh. When we win. Okay, you can laugh. But when you lose, before you laughing, you have to look around because you don't know who's going to go grab you over the back and say, what are you doing? We losing. And you ride. Why you laugh for? And I was like, you know, just. And that. That's contaminate. Contaminate me as well. And after that sometime. Sorry to my wife, I've been so negative with her sometime because when I lose and I get home, she's. When she watching a movie or she watching a comedy movie, she love it. I said, why you love four? She said, no, but yeah, I watch my. I said, oh, sorry. It still even carry on me. He couldn't follow me even in my house. That's how I was. And my three years Barcelona was that right? Even friendly game, Even training well, not fighting, but we were arguing for the tennis ball. Even in the tennis ball, the ball touched like. No, no, it's not even. We put the referee out there. Even the ref is there. He said, the ball said, no, no, no, you get corrupt. He was incredible. And that when I have. When I went to Man City at some point this same attitude came and that's where this team start to.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Was there a specific moment, Yaya, when you thought, we've now got it, we've now got that attitude at Manchester City.

[Yaya Toure]

I think when we win the. When we win the FA cup, the first game. When we win. When we win. I think I remember we played the semifinal United States and I don't know, maybe people. Okay, that's dressroom sacred, right? We were battling. We get smashed by United in the first half, chance after chance, opportunity after opportunity and we play. I want to say, rubbish. We were rubbish. Even two pass, we can do it. Mancini was like, blow up. How we gonna do. We went to the dressroom, we end up fighting. No, we're fighting each other. Yeah, we were fighting because we knew. We were like scared.

[Host]

Were you involved?

[Yaya Toure]

I was involved. We're fighting. We were like fighting. And after that, when we come to the second half, we see a new man City and after that we win the game. Okay. With the photo of Carrick. Thank you to him. Sorry, I scored the goals. But after the fight, after this game, again, United, we get that. And that year as well, I think we finished third. We qualified for the champion as well, because that was difficult in the past. But from that time we started to end up the thing like that all the players have the same mentality. And that's where I would say, ah, that's A good one because we fight in the dress room, like throw stuff, cutting group fighting, jump on us. Yes, it was incredible.

[Host]

And it was physical, like you were

[Yaya Toure]

grabbing each other, pushing each other. Physical. Does no one knows that.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

What did Mancini do?

[Yaya Toure]

No, he was blow up. Because sometimes as a, as a staff member or as a head coach, you standing by your side, you see how bad he is. But sometimes you need. You want to slap or you want to say, guys, you understand what you're doing. That's one opportunity in the year, right? But we player, we take responsibility and we get up because we can even pass to pass in the row. It was.

[Host]

I think it's so bad because certainly the media and I think often a lot of fans, they think if you've got a team that's fighting in the dressing room at halftime, then the team is done, the culture is gone, it's toxic, you're gonna win nothing. But the moment that you became a winning team was the day that you actually had a physical fight in the dressing room as a team.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah. Carlos De vez jump on one player.

[Host]

And who were you brave enough to take?

[Yaya Toure]

Oh, no, no, it was too many big guys over there because Les Cotto was there, Pompani was there, Viera was there. Those ones, they were trying to stop people, right, fighting each other. But that was the. I think that was the. I can say that they click, right? Like we said in France in French, they click the things. Who?

[Interviewer/Analyst]

The catalyst.

[Yaya Toure]

Yes, the catalyst. The things will open up everything because against United was incredible. Because that semifinal, United was first half was all of all them. If you, if you remember, if you get the start back again, you will see United, chance after chance missed a goal. I remember Babatov lose the goal in front of the goal.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Yaya Toure]

Johan was brilliant. He kept us in because with the save, he had it. It was incredible.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

And then you scored the winner, didn't you?

[Yaya Toure]

And as well me, I scored the winner. I was fighting that. But it was. It was good. But from that day, believe me, guys, after that, when we pass this year, we start to be machine. We. We enjoy winning. We enjoy winning and we start to have this feeling like when we lose game, we like, we like not happy. And I was like, when the good way.

[Host]

And then of course, 2012 happens. And you know what? Before we sat down for this conversation, I obviously reflected on 2012 and thought, yeah, that's a significant moment for Manchester City, obviously.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

But the more we talk about you and the fact that when you left Barcelona, you were thinking that Manchester United was where you wanted to go to the level.

[Yaya Toure]

Yes.

[Host]

The fact that it was Manchester United who you beat to win the Premier League in 2012. I think for you personally that was probably a really significant moment.

[Yaya Toure]

Oh yeah, definitely. Definitely was the. I think one of the best. Because if you going back to my first media conference when I. The first time I started to speak with the journalists, everything like that bonding. I was saying that we coming to just shadow United. And that was my belief because I knew. I know if we have to be the best team in Manchester, we have to shadow United. And that was so difficult. It was a dream actually. And me, I believe in my dream. Right. Because when I was young I believe and our dreams are going to play one day for Barcelona and happening when I come to Man City. I dream and I believe one day Man City is going to be the best team in Manchester. I believe in a dream and that happen again. And that's the thing because I remember when United was eight point ahead of us in 2012 and it was not impossible but as. As a self. Our self competitor. We're a competitor. Right. And that's the period where from 2011. That's why I said how the team progress in terms of mentality. Winning because that was the declick in 2008 the FA cup we win. And after that again in 2012 we confirmed that mentality because United was eight points ahead. I think it was nine game left or eight games left. I don't remember precisely what was that. And we didn't carry on winning. And United was drawing. I think they lost one or two games or drew one games. And we were carrying on winning successively. And it was incredible. And what defined this team as well is when we went to play against Newcastle and Newcastle and Newcastle was the team and form of the season with Papi CC and Dembaba. They were scoring goals from everywhere. You don't know you can catch them. Those two guys. It was like two Senegalese Central forward was so good. And we go and play Saint Just Park. I think if you can say that the title, right. If we win this game we still have chance to win the league. If we. Because the last game was QPR and we knew if we beat QPR we play and if we beat Newcastle we play Cupia at home. Should be done easily because for us the difficult games. The most difficult was Newcastle. Yeah. And the way we go in there, the way we playing and the way we behave during all the week going to the game opportunity. The game was fantastic. I remember that like yesterday.

[Host]

Like what sort of things did you see that week?

[Yaya Toure]

No, the player was involved, everyone was professional, you know, and we trained well, we trained hard. Because my opinion and my personal point of view, I see the team changing, developing and going to another level again. And that's what I was seeing. Because when you been in the top clubs you see some kind of habits. And when you go in another clubs and this club not using to do that and they see this kind of similar habit. You can predict at some point, not predict, but you can say it will happen at some point.

[Host]

What is your memory of that day in 2012? If you think of that final game against QPR when.

[Yaya Toure]

Because I think I got hamstring in half time.

[Host]

That must have been painful for you to have to come off at halftime in that.

[Yaya Toure]

It was incredible. It was incredible because I left was 10 and I was like, okay, we will win it.

[Host]

Were you trying to play on?

[Yaya Toure]

I tried but it was impossible because it was very, very deep. The injury because it was hamstring and you know, some for a player is very, very diffic. And I was in the dressroom watching the game and even the doctor was taking of me when I go to school. Everyone went out from the. From the medical. Everyone was on the field. I don't know. It was incredible because even me, I didn't know. I didn't know how Aguero score. Even. Even everything was. I'm not saying predict. It was like Parazan. Balotelli never passed the ball to a striker. He passed the ball to Aguero and that one when Balotelli free ball, he can shot. Because I know about toll all the time when he's like in a small square. He shot like a crazy guy. He passed the ball to Agolo and Aguro. I think the defender was Taiwo in that period. He stepped on his feet. I said jump, it's a penalty. But he didn't jump. He just stepped and he shoot because as well he shoots. Was close to the keeper. The keeper can even save it because saved that moment. He's finished. United was waiting there and Sunderland and Newcastle. And when the goal is coming, even me, I think I remember. But I end up in the field. I don't know how, but I end up in the field.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Can you remember what Mancini was like that day?

[Yaya Toure]

No, it was. I remember Mancini and I was in the dressroom. I was saw him like sweating, right? It was very bad. He was saying because of course we were losing because normally for him we supposed to beat Kipia easy and we make two mistakes. And after that we get QPR in front and QPR at some point as well. 20 minutes before the end of the game, the sea they were not related anymore. Then they don't need to play anymore, right? They were playing passive because at the beginning of the game they were like more defensive. Because for them the draw is good, winning is good, but lose, no. But when they heard that the third, the other one was losing, they were like, okay. But we were finding difficult to score the goals and end up the last minute. It was no, if he will lose this league and that I will. Maybe most of us will pass away for sure. Because it was impossible. It was impossible.

[Host]

What are you most proud of of the things you achieved at Manchester City?

[Yaya Toure]

Wow. A lot of things. Well, I think for me, the first trophy was the most important one. I can choose a lot of them, right? 2012 example, because that was the Premier League. That's what we. That's what I come forward, right? Win. Because me, I was, I was, I was. I would see myself as. I was feeling. I was describing myself as a winner, right? I know to achieve you have to make a lot of sacrifice. That's correct. But you have to, you have to make sure as well you're on. Align with your teammate. Because that demands a lot of things. You have to be able to be open to your teammate. You have to be able to just go with them, just share a lot of things with them. They know you as well. Because sometimes on football, people don't understand. We are people, normal, usual people who are outside the games or outside the team don't understand what is the. What is the life of the players. When he's in the campo, he's in the training, right? With his teammate. What did he share, how they talk, what they do. All these things we've been doing. I've been doing a lot of work on me, right? Because I'm the type of person where I'm quite quiet, reserve a lot of discipline, you know, and respectful as well. I'm not liking to be too much interact, right? But at some point in the games, because it's a group is the competition is the thing of groups, right? 25 people. And you have to share something with them. They have to know you. They have to, you know what I mean? Feel you, right? To know you are, can trust you. We can go, we can play together and you a good guy or, you know, bad, you know, you have to have this kind of interact and for me, I've been doing that a lot most of my career. That's why most of the time, wherever I go, every country I've been. For me the most important thing was the culture. Try to integrate it and the language and the food. Understand the things around, try to get in there. Because people, most of time people thinking higher athletes and top level athletes, sometimes arrogance, I don't understand what is going around. That's not. It's false, it's not true. Because those guys are the ones who take a lot, right. Understand all is going around them and try to make them try to combine. Right. Even they have egos, they have a lot of different way or perception of life. At some point when you come into the group, you have to. You have to have a elite mentality, right. Example, right. Make sure everyone follows. Yeah. A little bit like a manager, for example, right. But most of the players now, especially the best players or the leader in the group, all of them have that kind of mindset.

[Host]

You helped to change the mindset of Man City. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's no doubt about that.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Would you. Would you like one day to manage Manchester City?

[Yaya Toure]

Oh, well, I. I don't know to be honest. Because that. It will be a dreams at some point, right. Because Man City, like I said long ago even I left as a players somewhere coming back at Man City walking one as any capacity and one day would be a dream because Man City have been the clubs where I achieve the most, where I get the most recognization, if I can say that. Yeah. Where I get the most individual trophies. Because of course I was in Barcelona, I was Monaco, full respects, right? But Man City, I've been African Ballon d' or for times on a row. I've been winning Premier League, I've been winning almost everything, right. Only Champions League I didn't be able to do it, but they did it and people know my proximity with have it with Man City still carry on following them. Again, this sounds like a. If it happen if you are that level because now Man City is that in that level and I think elite coach coming there again it's going to be top because me, I'm always going to be a big fan of City for sure.

[Host]

And look, there is talk about whether the current manager carries on after this summer. Is it too soon for you to go in there now?

[Yaya Toure]

No way I can go there. Maybe go as it staff member of the assistant coach. Yes, but because I think now it's too soon. It's too soon. Because Man City now at that level. Right.

[Host]

But you've got a record of dreaming and making your dreams come true. So what we're saying is managing Man City like Barcelona was a dream.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Like becoming the best team in Manchester was a dream.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Managing Manchester City one day.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

Remains a dream for you.

[Yaya Toure]

We dream and at some point I just follow my dream and I respect my dream. And me, I'm the a man who loves challenge himself. Right. Because for me, it's not that when you do something you passionate about, you just have to have some, you know, some. A dream about it, some objective. Right. Some target in. In front of you. Because for me, without that, why are you doing that? Right? Why you doing this job or why you want to do it? Because for me, it's always been that, for example, if you have. Want to be a chef, if you. I love food, at some point I want to be a chef and I have to walk through it right on my way, because I know people will thinking, right. I have the knowledge because I've been there, I've been playing for the clubs. That doesn't give me the knowledge to be out there right at the moment. I think I need to go or respect the process and to go as at some point where people feel like, yeah, deserve this position and that's be perfect.

[Host]

And you would also, I think, love to manage Ivory coast one day.

[Yaya Toure]

At some point. At some point, yes. At some point. Love it.

[Host]

Well, look, it's been an absolute pleasure to sit down and talk to you. And I was struck when you came in and I said, how's life? And you went, boring.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

You know, it's so clear that your passion for football burns as bright as ever.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

It's. It's so clear that you feel ready to go again. And definitely, you know, so many athletes have walked the same path before you.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

Yeah.

[Host]

That the world they're in is so exciting, so demanding, the levels are so high that. That when that world leaves you behind, it can be painful, it can be difficult.

[Yaya Toure]

Yeah.

[Host]

But I think from the conversation we've just had, I'm very excited for your future.

[Yaya Toure]

What do you think? Very much.

[Interviewer/Analyst]

I think I love great players that are respecting the process to become a great coach, and I'm excited to see what follows. Yeah.

[Host]

He says that as a Man United fan. Yeah.

[Yaya Toure]

Thank you, guys. Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure.

[Host]

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