Yaya Toure calls out Man City boss Pep Guardiola for once again failing to deliver Champions League title

Ex-Ivory Coast international suggested it might be time for a change in the managerial seat at the Etihad

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has sounded off on his old manager Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard oversaw a quarter-final Champions League exit for the third year in a row.

City, who were largely viewed as favourites for the trophy that continues to evade them after a last-16 victory over Real Madrid, were eliminated following a 3-1 defeat by Lyon, and Toure has labelled the club’s failure “disappointing” and “strange”.

Toure, who endured a strained relationship with Guardiola while playing under the coach at both City and Barcelona, was quick to point out that his old manager has failed to achieve the primary goal for which he was brought to the Etihad.

“The manager has been signed for that: just to bring this trophy,” Toure said on Football Daily. “And when you see Liverpool maybe and other clubs who [have won it] without doing a lot of work in the transfer market, it’s quite strange and disappointing.

“Of course, he’s been brought to the club to get a massive trophy for them and at the moment it’s not been delivered in the way they want.

“Everyone knows Pep is a great manager, but at the moment when things are not going their way, sometimes it’s the time to change the way they do things. We’ll see.”

City’s conquerors Lyon were beaten 3-0 by Bayern Munich – the new favourites – in Wednesday’s semi-final, with the German outfit set to face another French team in Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final.

Guardiola won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, but he has not won Europe’s elite competition since.

After leaving Barca, whom he also represented as a player, in 2012, Guardiola spent three years as Bayern coach between 2013 and 2016. He joined City later in 2016.

Since moving to Manchester, the former midfielder has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups.