Willy Sagnol on Thomas Touré: “He Surprises Even Himself”
Girondins de Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol had both praise and playful critique for forward Thomas Touré following Bordeaux’s 2-1 win over Rennes on Sunday. Touré played a decisive role in the match, once again drawing attention to his unpredictable but effective style.
“He’s a difficult player to understand because he doesn’t think like the others,” Sagnol told L’Équipe. “On small things, he’ll ask himself 3,000 questions, and on others he doesn’t ask any—like when he takes a shot.”
The coach acknowledged that Touré’s unorthodox decision-making keeps both opponents—and his own staff—on their toes. “Sometimes the opponent doesn’t really know where he is, and neither does he,” Sagnol added with a touch of humor. “He surprises us too.”
But beyond the jokes, Sagnol made it clear that Touré is held to high expectations. “He’s not a young player anymore, he’s not even eighteen. He has a certain talent, but we need to get the mammoth down,” he said, suggesting that Touré must now mature and shed any remaining inconsistency if he wants to truly fulfill his potential.
Despite the quirks, one thing is clear: Thomas Touré continues to earn his coach’s trust—and his place in the Bordeaux squad.
