City’s talisman Toure takes ‘scientific’ approach to football

Yaya Toure has spoken of his obsession with football and compared himself to a professor trying “to crack the mysteries of the game”.

The Manchester City midfielder critiques his own performance after every game in a notebook which he constantly refers to, and spends hours talking to coach Manuel Pellegrini to further his knowledge. Toure’s quest for information began aged 13, when he would stay behind on rest days at the Sol Beni academy in Abidjan to talk football with coach Jean-Marc Guillou rather than go home.

“Coach Jean-Marc taught us not only how to play but also how to understand football, because football is a science. If you don’t understand, you cannot reach the highest level,” said Toure.