Yaya Toure had waited a decade to win a trophy with his country and, after Ivory Coast had finally won the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, following a string of near misses, he seemed drained.
He is usually a fluent speaker but he struggled to get out the words as he spoke of his joy and his relief. He seemed shattered and that should concern Manchester City fans as he returns to England.
It is a tough task for a player to pick themselves up after such euphoria to focus on a league season that continues on Wednesday night with that most stereotypically unglamorous of fixtures – away at Stoke City.
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Other issues are also in play. Given his immense contribution to Ivorian football over his career, it would be churlish to begrudge Toure his moment of victory, but his emotion could not disguise the fact that he did not have a great tournament.
He scored a magnificent goal in the semi-final win over DR Congo, but apart from that his impact was minimal.
Admittedly, he played deeper on the pitch than he does for City, but he looked jaded, as though he were carrying an injury, his fine domestic form of December forgotten.
There was a strange touchiness about him, as well. Asked if Ivory Coast’s success could inspire him in the title run-in with City, he became strangely snappish.
“When I was in Manchester people were criticising me, about a lot of things,” he said. “Sometimes when you say the truth about football, people don’t listen. Especially you guys from the newspaper. You have to be objective and you have to say the true things.
“I’ve always been the guy who does everything to try and do the best for the team. Sometimes, I know, I can’t be credited for that, but it’s part of football. But I think my job is to try and do my best.
“I will sometimes get a little bit upset with some comments, from people who sit in front of the TV and try and say like they understand football more.”
His outburst, which included profanity, served only to suggest there is a problem.
It is not just Toure – perhaps not even mainly Toure – but City have lacked an edge and drive this season. The result has been inconsistency and an over-reliance on individuals.
They lost to Stoke at the Etihad Stadium this season and, with the gap to Chelsea at the top of the table already at seven points, they cannot afford another slip if they are to keep alive the title race and their dreams of retaining their championship.
Toure and City’s new signing, Wilfried Bony, went back to Abidjan after the African Cup success where they were greeted at the airport by thousands of fans.
They surely will not be risked at Stoke and they do at least then have an FA Cup weekend to recover, but the pair could hardly be blamed if it takes them time to readjust.
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