Near the end of 2014, Manchester City lost Yaya Toure for his biannual trip to participate in the African Cup of Nations as a member of Ivory Coast’s national team. As expected, City struggled during that time, but Toure’s return hasn’t brought better results. So why hasn’t the return of City’s engine in the midfield helped at all? It hasn’t helped because Toure hasn’t wanted to help all season long.
Believe it or not, this story begins with a birthday cake or, allegedly, the lack thereof.
In the first real sign of a rift between Toure and the club, Toure’s agent made it clear that the midfielder was upset that he was not wished a happy 31st birthday. He went on to point out that City’s leadership had a huge cake to celebrate winning the Premier League, but not for his birthday. Toure originally denied that what his agent had said was true, but did acknowledge that he was upset with the team.
While that displeasure seemed to disappear during City’s successful start to the season, things seemed different upon Toure’s return from the AFCON, as he just seemed a step slower than usual and less dominant than he’s been in the team’s more successful campaigns. And it’s only become worse with each passing week.
Now, combine these issues with the change in tactics from City’s opponents, who have become more committed to packing the penalty area with defenders and allowing City to expose themselves to create counter attacking opportunities, and City’s season has fallen apart. But nobody has looked more discouraged than Toure on a weekly basis, with the possible exception of the perpetually miserable Samir Nasri.
In fact, Toure’s performance has been so far below par that Gary Neville called him out for completely failing to do his job in City’s embarrassing loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. And the criticism that Toure hasn’t been willing to put in work defensively, the crux of Neville’s argument, hasn’t been inaccurate at all.
Since then, things between Toure and City have grown even worse, with Toure’s agent again opening his mouth. This time he questioned the ability of manager Manuel Pellegrini, while naming Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan as clubs that Toure holds in high regard in the event of a move at the end of the season. Of course, Toure could be focusing on playing better for his current club instead of mapping out a transfer, but he doesn’t seem intent on doing that right now.
The saddest thing about this rift is that Toure has become a Manchester City icon, helping them win the most dramatic title in Premier League history in the 2011-2012 season, and has been a key component to the most successful group in club history. Instead of looking back on those moments fondly and moving on in a dignified manner, this episode will always be an unfortunate footnote to a memorable City career.
Now, City are without a trophy in 2014-2015, and are still in danger of missing out on a top four position and a Champions League berth. It’s possible that they will clean house after a year this catastrophic by their standards. Given the attitude of Yaya Toure this season, the sky blues certainly have one player that needs to go.