Manchester City legend Yaya Toure says he's relearning the ropes as academy coach at Tottenham.

Toure turned down the Wigan Athletic manager's job this month, which was eventually taken by brother Kolo Toure.

"You can be a big player and not be a big coach," says Toure, 39, to the Daily Mail. "Before, as a player, I was so selfish. I only looked after myself.

"Now, I have to understand children. I'm back to the start. And at their age, life is not so certain. You have to support them, talk to them a lot. When I was a teenager, playing in Belgium, I made mistakes. With food, behaviour. I was out driving cars. If you don't have someone who understands you, it's tough. I want to be that person who is there for them.

"But I also want to push them to realise their dreams. I say to them, 'Do you see Xavi and Iniesta? I played with them, I can talk to you about what they did differently. Come on, let us watch some videos'. There is not a barrier between me and them, they can always come to me."

Toure continued: "It (playing) is the big part I have to break up with.

"Why? They are 16, they are not fully developed. At the end, sometimes, I show them some shooting. But if I join in training, it is only ever as a floater!

"One thing I never liked was a manager shouting at me during a game. It can be confusing.

"I don't want to shout from the touchline like a crazy old clown. You should make sure you have prepared properly and give the right instruction before the game."