Has Yaya Toure lifted Manchester City's Champions League ‘curse’? Fans after draw
Fans online believe former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has finally lifted the Uefa Champions League ‘curse’ after he named Pep Guardiola’s team among the favourites to win this season’s crown.
Toure was conducting Thursday’s Champions League draw that saw his former club paired with Spanish side Sevilla, Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Danish club FC Copenhagen in Group G, and when asked what he thought of the team’s chances, Toure said:
"Every year they have a chance, and this year they're going to have a chance,” Toure told BT Sport. “They can get what they need. It's not going to be easy for them, but I wish them good luck."
However, fans read differently into the comments, some thinking Toure has finally lifted the ‘curse’ to allow City to win Europe’s premier club competition.
This follows past comments made by the former midfielder’s agent that ‘African shamans’ will never allow manager Guardiola to win the Champions League because he treated the star ‘unfairly’ in his final season at the club.
Did I just hear Yaya Toure forgive Pep and prays he wins the UCL this year #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/YkirlmDXgP
— Dr. Tonykings👨🏾🔬🔬 ❤️👑 (@_tonykings) August 25, 2022
Yaya Toure has lifted the curse.
— SHEIKH 👑 (@SheikhMCI) August 25, 2022
This year will be our year. pic.twitter.com/gFkXBSNYI0
Yaya Toure wishing Man City good luck for winning the #UCL 😭 pic.twitter.com/srsPbM9V39
— Khizer (@khiz_7) August 25, 2022
Yaya Toure was part of the #UCLdraw 🙏🏿😅 we winning it this season @ManCity 💙💪🏿
— DAVID IS THE NAME® (@David_L_Lebepe) August 25, 2022
Curse reversed 🕺🏿🕺🏿💃🏿🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/O7CHEFw9PD
Oh Yaya Touré I think we should pay him some more💙🎶 pic.twitter.com/HEBA8LOmAP
— g_certified (@gcertifedd) August 25, 2022
Yaya Toure saying Manchester City has the chance to win the UCL means the curse has been removed from Man City #UCLdraw
— Vibes🇬🇭🇺🇸 (@omane_boniface) August 25, 2022
However, some fans think Toure was not the right person to ask regarding City's chances.
They’re asking Yaya Toure how Man City can win the Champions League not knowing his agent cursed them #UCLDraw
— Will (@willreyner) August 25, 2022
They're Asking Yaya Toure what Man City need to do to win the UCL?.. Unless he's dead😭😭🤣
— Dogs_Home_gh🇬🇭 (@Dogshomegh) August 25, 2022
Pep turning on the UCL draw just to see Yaya Toure announcing the teams😭 pic.twitter.com/D8j31QjYWs
— Footebate (@footebate) August 25, 2022
The closest Man City are getting to a Champions League trophy is Yaya Toure helping out with the draw.
— trent's depressed stekkie (@tee_lfc_) August 25, 2022
yaya toure being asked if he thinks city will win the UCL pic.twitter.com/Y2KVvZYaNi
— 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 💫🇦🇺 (@DarwinRole) August 25, 2022
In the name of Yaya Toure, for as long as i’m alive, breathing & eating good, Man City will never win a Champions league
— A.N.D.Z🇨🇴🇳🇬 (@Andzinho6_) August 25, 2022
Yaya toure drawing city in an easy group knowing they still won't win ucl#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/4YwC0LdD7O
— Harrison (@isoje7) August 25, 2022
Toure joined City from Barcelona in July 2010 and went on to make 316 appearances while scoring 79 goals, many of them in decisive games, as he won eight trophies, including three Premier League titles.
A powerful midfielder with an eye for goal, Toure was among City’s golden generation that established the club as a powerhouse in world football, alongside Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
He has since delved into coaching and was recently appointed academy coach at Tottenham Hotspur to handle the club’s U16 team.