Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure has not worked hard enough to warrant selection so far this season: 'I want more from him'

  • Manchester City have made the trip to Feyenoord ahead of Wednesday's clash 
  • Boss Pep Guardiola left Yaya Toure out of the squad to face the Dutch side
  • Guardiola believes the midfielder has not done enough on the training ground
  • Sources close to Toure reject any notion he is not working hard enough

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola indicated on the eve of his club's Champions League campaign that Yaya Toure has not done enough on the training pitch to justify a single minute's football this season.

Guardiola has left the 34-year-old out of the squad to face Dutch champions Feyenoord tonight and said the player 'knows why' he is out in the cold.

'It is between him and me. It is just a sporting decision,' he said. 'I demand as much as possible. I want more from Yaya, more from everyone.' 


Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure has not worked enough to warrant selection this season

Pep Guardiola believes Yaya Toure has not worked enough to warrant selection this season

Guardiola said he 'demands more from Yaya', after leaving him out of Manchester City's squad

Guardiola said he 'demands more from Yaya', after leaving him out of Manchester City's squad

Sources close to the player, who trained in Manchester on Tuesday, indicated that he is not disheartened by his exclusion, with only four games having been played and there is no expectation that he will start every game.

The player is unlikely to be so relaxed about the situation if there is no change in the next two months, though. Guardiola will be uncompromising on Toure's contribution to training, his attitude and physique. 

Asked if he expected the midfielder to play again soon, the manager said: 'Hopefully. It depends on the player.'  

Despite City's £215million outlay on players this summer, Guardiola said he still sees a gulf in experience and confidence between his side and the usual favourites.

The total spend on City's squad is £775m, £3m more than the amount spent by the Paris Saint-Germain side now parading £198m Neymar, but the Catalan said City were still growing.

Guardiola asked John Stones how many Champions League games he had played — '10 maybe', the defender replied.   

Toure has not played this season but sources close to him reject that he is not working hard

Toure has not played this season but sources close to him reject that he is not working hard

 But Guardiola is clearly dissatisfied with Toure and he will not feature against Feyenoord

 But Guardiola is clearly dissatisfied with Toure and he will not feature against Feyenoord

 'The players at Barcelona and Bayern Munich have played more than 100, or 80,' Guardiola said. 'That is the difference.'

A year ago today Guardiola said 'Why not?' to the question of whether City could win the elite European crown and insisted there was no reason why English sides had been failing. 'Why can't you win today and in three days' time? It is physical, yes, but it is the same in Spain or Germany,' he said then.

The tone now is markedly more guarded, highlighting a lack of confidence.

'The English teams are a step back in that respect,' he said. 'The titles and the way they play, the self-confidence shows that. That Spain (European Championship) win was so important in 2007-08 for that generation. 

'The step for the English teams — the club teams and national teams — is to win one, or be close and then say, 'OK, wow, we are there'. One thing (they need) is belief.'  

Guardiola asked John Stones how many games he has played in the Champions League

Guardiola asked John Stones how many games he has played in the Champions League

Guardiola believes Europe's elite teams have a big advantage when it comes to experience

Guardiola believes Europe's elite teams have a big advantage when it comes to experience

Guardiola's goalkeeper Ederson was an emblem of the spirit he hinted is missing in Toure. As he travelled with the squad, the Brazilian wore a scrum cap over injuries sustained when Liverpool's Sadio Mane put a boot into the side of his head on Saturday. 

Guardiola said there was a risk the 24-year-old would feel the same anxiety as Petr Cech, who found it difficult charging out for the ball after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt 11 years ago. But Ederson went up for three long balls in training on Tuesday and will be assessed today.

Feyenoord are without striker Nicolai Jorgensen, the Dutch league's top scorer last season. Manager Giovanni von Bronkhorst said City were 'one of the best teams, one that can win the Champions League'.

But their resolve to defeat vastly wealthy English sides was evident a year ago this week, when they beat Manchester United here 1-0. 

Ederson, who trained after his injury against Liverpool, exemplifies the spirit Guardiola wants

Ederson, who trained after his injury against Liverpool, exemplifies the spirit Guardiola wants

Guardiola spoke in Rotterdam ahead of his side's Champions League opener
They face Feyenoord at De Kuip on Wednesday evening

Guardiola spoke in Rotterdam ahead of his side's Champions League opener with Feyenoord