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Former Cote d'Ivoire midfielder revealed how a Pep Guardiola decision shook him.
Ivorian football legend Yaya Toure explained how he felt when Pep Guardiola told him he had to play centre-back in the Champions League final against Manchester United.
The now-retired 44-year-old partnered with Gerard Pique in defence for Barcelona during the 2009 UCL final. Starting right back, Dani Alves was unavailable, as was centre-back Rafa Marquez. Captain Carles Puyol replaced Alves at right-back, while Toure slotted in defence.
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What Toure said
In a recent interview on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former Manchester City ace explained how he found playing centre-back daunting.
"Of course, yeah, I have the courage, but, to be honest, I have to tell you the truth: I was really scared. I was really really scared,” Toure told the former Leeds United defender.
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"It was my first time to play at centre-back in a Champions League final, you know. If we lost it, it would be 'there was an inexperienced player there, and a player of a very young age in that position, and it was all coming down to me.”
Toure had a strong showing in the game, keeping a cleansheet as his Barcelona won 2-0 over Ferdinand's Manchester United thanks to goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi.
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