Pep Guardiola criticised Yaya Toure in front of his Manchester team-mates after Saturday's FA Cup win

Despite impressing against Middlesbrough at the weekend, the midfielder was openly subjected to Guardiola's criticism 

Samuel Lovett
Monday 13 March 2017 17:13 GMT
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Guardiola talks to Toure during Saturday's FA Cup game against Middlesbrough
Guardiola talks to Toure during Saturday's FA Cup game against Middlesbrough

Pep Guardiola has admitted he openly criticised Yaya Toure in front of his team-mates following Manchester City’s FA Cup win against Middlesbrough.

Toure impressed on Saturday as City secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Riverside. The Ivorian was influential in the build-up to David Silva’s early opener and went on to receive a standing ovation when leaving in the second half.

But the 33-year-old, who is out of current at the end of the season and has yet to sign a new deal at the Etihad, was not immune to criticism from the City manager.

“In some things, he did not make good things - he knows that,” Guardiola revealed.

“I spoke to him in front of the team.”

Toure’s relationship with Guardiola got off to a tempestuous start this season, with the midfielder’s agent openly criticising the City boss for opting to leave his client out of the side’s Champions League squad.

The outspoken Dimitri Seluk went on to spark a bitter war of words with Guardiola, accusing him of treating the club’s players “like dogs” while arguing Toure had been left "humiliated". The Catalan subsequently insisted he would not play the City veteran until an apology was issued.

Toure eventually took matters into his own hands, apologising on behalf of Seluk to bring the dispute to an end.

Although the midfielder has since earned his manager’s faith, Toure’s future at the club remains unclear. Guardiola is still to make a decision over whether to hand the player a new deal in the summer - and insists he will wait until the end of the season before declaring his intentions.

“He has a big personality and this season, he is helping us playing top, top football,” said the City manager. “He will play football until he decides because he loves playing.

“He enjoys playing and loves playing games.

“The focus now needs to be on winning games and competitions.

“We will talk about it at the end of the season.

“He can play for big, big clubs. He can play wherever he wants.”

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