Yaya Toure admits he was "scared" to play at centre-back for Barcelona against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final.
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- Barca won 2-0
- Toure partnered Gerard Pique in defence
- Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored
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WHAT HAPPENED?
In an interview with Ferdinand for his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, Toure admitted to being "really scared" when asked to play centre-back in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United. The Ivorian, normally a midfielder, lined up alongside Pique at the heart of the Barcelona defence, as Carles Puyol played at right-back due to the absence of Dani Alves. Rafael Marquez, the usual deputy centre-back, was injured.
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- AFP
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Toure's Barcelona ran out 2-0 winners at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on the night thanks to goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi. The victory over Sir Alex Ferguson's United secured a historic treble for the Catalan club, with Toure playing a key role in midfield that season.
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WHAT TOURE SAID
Toure said: "Of course yeah, I have the courage but, to be honest, I have to tell you the truth, I was really scared. I was really really scared.
"It was my first time to play at centre-back in a Champions League final, you know. If we lost it, it would be 'there was an inexperienced player there, and a player of a very young age in that position, and it was all coming down to me."
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- AFP
WHAT NEXT?
Toure is currently cutting his managerial teeth in Saudi Arabia as he pursues his ambition to become a top-level coach.
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