01 December 2023 , 15:35
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Mention Yves Bissouma to Yaya Toure and his face lights up.
Tottenham ’s Ivory Coast-born midfielder is back from suspension for this weekend’s trip to Manchester City. Toure, on the shortlist for the Premier League ’s Hall of Fame earlier this year, believes the 27-year-old could easily play in City’s midfield. Just like he did.
“Technically, Yves Bissouma is unbelievable,” he said. “His strength and technical abilities are outstanding.”
Toure, a three time title winner, is now assistant coach to Roberto Mancini in Saudi Arabia. But he’ll be tuning in to watch Bissouma in action as Spurs bid to recapture their form at the Etihad. "Under Ange Postecoglou he gets the freedom he needs. He likes to touch the ball, to be involved," he said.
“He also reminds me of Fernandinho. Very strong. Very energetic. A good engine and technically gifted. He is not afraid to receive the ball while he is being pressed or in tight spaces. If Bissouma carries on at that level even bigger clubs will look at him. What he is doing now, I’ve seen before. I’ve known him for a long time. I know his quality and I understand his strengths.”
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It was Toure’s strengths that had Mancini - who led City to their first Premier League win in 2012 - straight onto the phone after the Italian took the Saudi job. Toure had been assistant head coach at Belgian club Standard Liege, owned by US Investment Group, 777 Partners which also aims to complete a takeover of Everton.
Bissouma will return from a ban for the trip to the Etihad (Alex Morton/Tottenham Hotspur FC/REX/Shutterstock)Toure, who’d been there since June, hopes to extend his learning curve in the Middle East as pursues his goal of managing in the Premier League. Mancini, winner of the 2020 European Championship with Italy, has already started the Saudis’ World Cup qualifying bid superbly with 4-0 and 2-0 wins respectively over Pakistan and Jordan.
“When you are close to one of the best you are always active,” said Toure. “I’m working hard because the job demands a lot. So I've already started learning from him.”
Toure had coached at Ukrainian side Olimpik Donetsk, Russian outfit Akhmat Gozny and at Tottenham’s academy before joining Carl Hoefkens' coaching staff at Standard. The Belgians beat Genk last weekend and sit eighth in the Belgian Pro League.
Toure is looking to forge a successful coaching career (REX/Shutterstock)Toure believes signing Premier League trio Steven Alzate from Brighton, Isaac Hayden from Newcastle and Moussa Djenepo from Southampton has galvanised their season after a slow start. “From a recruitment point of view, the club was brilliant,” he said.
“They want to do something important in football, the right way.‘“Straight away they identified the areas to fill up because the side was young and inexperienced. Bringing those new players in was the key factor. Now the team is progressing the right way.”
Toure had been persuaded to join Standard by Sporting director Fergal Harkin, known to him from their time at City. As for his own managerial future, he still sees it in the Premier League.
“Inshallah [God willing]!” he smiled. “I’ve been guided by top people at Standard who were always positive,
“Knowing Fergal, he understood clearly where I wanted to be and he was very helpful along with 777. Now I am in Saudi with Roberto, I have a lot of responsibility which isn’t easy, but it's positive and happy. We have had great results to build on.
“Now I feel I am on the right path and I still believe I can be a head coach. I’m patient. It will come.”
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