October 27, 2011
Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola has denied that he froze Yaya Toure out of the club, insisting that the midfielder asked for a transfer and that the Catalans "tried to convince him to stay".
Yaya Toure played under Pepe Guardiola for two years at Barcelona
Toure, 28, left Camp Nou in July 2010 for big-spending Manchester City in a dealt worth around £24 million and enjoyed a fine first season, winning the FA Cup and helping Roberto Mancini's side qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
The Ivory Coast international has since claimed he was forced out of Barca and this week reiterated that stance, insisting Guardiola "ignored" him and that he "did not want to leave".
"When I spoke with Guardiola he left me blank," Toure said. "His explanations were a bit strange and he ignored me up until I had the offer from City. My family were laughing because they thought my situation at the club with Guardiola was a joke.
"At the end Guardiola spoke to me, but initially he never said anything. He had no confidence in me. I wanted to stay and he did not. If Guardiola had spoken to me I would have stayed at the club. I did not want to leave. I wanted to finish my career at Barca."
But Guardiola has responded by rejecting Toure's comments, with the Barca boss recalling events towards the end of Toure's spell at Camp Nou differently to his former player.
"The doors of my office were always open," Guardiola said. "The reality is that he asked president Joan Laporta to leave and that we tried to convince him to stay. If we face City in the Champions League I'll talk to him."
Ở trường hợp của Krkic thì có thể hiểu được. Krkic quá chậm chạp nên không thể thích nghi với lối đá của Barca.
Roma's Bojan Krkic: If Pep Guardiola called me I would not go back to Barcelona
Oct 10, 2011 11:47:00 PM
Any player would likely jump at the chance to play for the European champions, but not the 21-year-old who is not eager to head back to his old stomping grounds
Roma striker Bojan Krkic insists he would not return to Barcelona if he was called back to Camp Nou.
The 21-year-old forward left Barcelona in the summer, joining the Serie A club for an initial €12 million fee after failing hold down a regular place in Spain.
Barcelona have an option to buy him back, but Bojan is not keen on returning, claiming his relationship with Barca coach Pep Guardiola grew frosty last term.
"If Guardiola calls me now I would not go back to Barcelona," the youngster told TV3.
"I spent a long time without speaking to Guardiola. I could not find the right words when I used to see him.
"I do not think I got what I deserved there."
The statement further explains the striker's feelings, which he aired just days ago when he said he felt undervalued at the club. It took him to the point of deciding on an exit on the night many would have begged to stay.
"I decided I would leave Barcelona on the night of the Champions League final [against Manchester United in May]," added Bojan.
"I knew I would not be a starter for Barcelona. Even when we were 3-1 up at Wembley, the coach did not play me. From that moment I knew he did not count on me."
Roma's Bojan Krkic: I have never criticised Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola
11 Nov 2011 20:24:00
The young Spaniard underlined that he does not have any negative comments to make about his former coach and spoke of his delight at being at the Serie A giants
Roma striker Bojan Krkic has guaranteed that he never intended to hit out at Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
The 21-year-old striker lamented in the summer his lack of playing opportunities at Camp Nou, which made him choose to further his career at the Serie A side.
Guardiola has recently come under fire from AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who slammed the Spanish coach in his autobiography.
Bojan has now guaranteed that he does not think the same way as the Swedish striker as there is no bad blood between him and the 40-year-old coach.
"I was a little bit surprised, because I was on the same list of people who criticised Guardiola," he told EFE. "I believe that I have never criticised Guardiola, on the contrary.
"I believe that Barcelona are where they are in part because of Guardiola, who is the best coach that Barca could have.
"I am very calm, he knows that I never criticised him when I was there and I will not do it now."
The player then remarked that he is happy with life at Roma, who are seventh in the Serie A standings.
"We are a young team, with a lot of new players and a different mentality, but everything is going well and we are eager to make the club succeed," he added.
Pep Guardiola: I understand Bojan Krkic's disappointment with Barcelona
Oct 14, 2011 3:25:00 PM
The 40-year-old is aware of his former player's remarks over the way he left the Spanish club and has offered his version of events prior to the summer exit
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has responded to Roma striker Bojan Krkic who said he would never go back to Camp Nou.
"He [Bojan] did everything to help us. I have good memories of him and I understand his disappointment as I used to play football too," Guardiola told the press. "He is still young and in two years he will be back here. He now has time to show that he can return to this club. I would have liked to have helped him more, but I couldn't. I have to ask whether we did something wrong."
The 21-year-old insisted he would not return to Barca if he was called with an offer from the coach because Guardiola never gave him a chance to shine in last season's Champions League final against Manchester United.
Bojan left the Spanish and European champions two months after their famous 3-1 win at Wembley and joined the Serie A club for an initial 12 million euros following the tension with Guardiola. The coach appeared sympathetic with the Roma forward and has taken note of the frustration still felt by his former starlet.
"If I am still the coach should he return, then I will need convincing he can be a Barcelona player," he continued. "He is young and has a great future, but the success depends on him."
