'Disrespectful' Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho talks too much says Manchester City's Yaya Toure
Title race gains added spice as midfielder claims the Special One's press conference mind-games are "not the correct way" to behave
Yaya Toure has accused Jose Mourinho of talking too much and not showing other clubs enough respect.
Chelsea boss Mourinho branded Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger "a specialist in failure" earlier this season, and has clashed with Toure's Manchester City gaffer Manuel Pellegrini.
Now, midfielder Toure has said the Portuguese - whose west Londoners lead City by nine points in the title race, but have played three games more - should talk less about his rivals and show his fellow managers, and their teams, more respect.
"He is a coach and he must give respect a little bit," said Toure. "He is always talking about everyone and that is not the correct way.
"That is why Barcelona always beat Real Madrid when Mourinho was here. I think he talks more than before, perhaps because the English press likes it."
Toure made his remarks in Spanish newspaper Marca, following City's Champions League exit to Barcelona on Wednesday
Pablo Zabaleta confident Manchester City can land title
Pablo Zabaleta remains upbeat in Manchester City's efforts to end the 2013/14 campaign with multiple honours.
The Blues have already added the Capital One Cup to their trophy cabinet, but their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple has started to unravel.
Setbacks against Wigan Athletic and Barcelona in the space of four disappointing days have brought an end to City's FA Cup and UEFA Champions League challenges.
A 2-1 defeat at the Nou Camp on Wednesday saw City's European dreams dashed, with Zabaleta seeing red as frustrations boiled over in Catalunya.
Focus has, however, been realigned, with Manuel Pellegrini's side now looking to make the most of their three games in hand in the Premier League title race.
Zabaleta said of the battle to secure domestic success: "We had determination and character in the Camp Nou. It is never easy to come to Barcelona and get the result that we did.
"We should learn about all these things. I am 100 per cent sure if we keep playing like we did there we can win some trophy.
"Hopefully we can keep playing with that intensity.
"We know the only trophy we go for now until the end of the season is the Premier League.
"We know how tough Hull away is (on Saturday) but we have a fantastic team.
"It is just belief and playing with intensity. With this team, playing the way we did on Wednesday, we can beat anybody."
City's hopes of landing a second league title in three years may rest on the fitness of top scorer Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine frontman forced off at half-time against Barcelona as a hamstring problem which kept him out for five games in February flared up again.
Zabaleta said of his fellow countryman and his importance to the cause: "Hopefully it is nothing serious.
"He will have a scan to see if the hamstring is okay.
"Fingers crossed. We know how important Sergio is for the team and hopefully he can keep fit for the next game."
Chelsea, City favourites for title, says Sturridge
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is tipping Chelsea or Manchester City for the Premier League title.
The Reds sit second in the table on 59 points, seven shy of leaders Chelsea, although Brendan Rodgers' men have a game in hand.Arsenal are third on goal difference, two points ahead of Manchester City, but the England striker believes the league will be won by a team in blue.
"I think Chelsea are the favourites along with Man City," Sturridge said ahead of Liverpool's visit to Manchester United on Sunday.
He added, of their Old Trafford trip: "We go into the game working as hard as we can on the training field, working as hard as we can as a team on the pitch in every game up until the end of the season and we'll see where our hard work takes us when the season finishes.
"No I don't feel the pressure in terms of the derby (against United), I think it's a massive game for us as a team but we're going into it with confidence, we're going into it knowing what we have to do.
"We're confident, we've been feeling confident for a long time and we're going into the game feeling good."
Sturridge, speaking at the World Cup Trophy Tour's stopover in London, said he was anticipating an interesting clash against Uruguay at Brazil 2014, which will pit the former Chelsea man against club team-mate Luis Suarez.
"Of course it will be difficult to play against him (Suarez) but it will be difficult for him to play against us as well," he said.
"We've just got to go out there and work as hard we can as a team and it's not about the individuals.
"Luis is playing amongst Uruguayans there's also (Edinson) Cavani there and there's other players that are top players. It will be a great occasion for not just us as players but the fans also."
But Sturridge acknowledged he still needed to sew up his plane ticket to Brazil first, before thinking further of representing England at the Cup finals.
"To be able to be involved in such an occasion (would be great), but I'm not there yet and there's 10 games left in the season, there's the manager's selection," he said.
"So if I can be there and be involved in history for the country, just to be on the plane would be amazing for me and I'm hopeful that it will happen."
[spoiler]Natalia Velez - Radamel Falcao's Girlfriend.
[/spoiler]Chelsea are preparing a £27m summer offer for Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, 25, after making him their top transfer target. Metro
Tottenham, West Ham, Fulham, Barcelona and Inter Milan are all keen on signing Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet, the 18-year-old son of Sunderland boss Gus Poyet. Daily Express
Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, 26, has two years remaining on his contract but the Belgium defender is thought to be considering his options for next season. Evening Standard
Chelsea are set to reprise their interest in Bosnia international Senad Lulic, 28, who may leave Serie A side Lazio this summer. Talkshit
Bundesliga side Wolfsburg say a summer bid for Mario Mandzukic, 27, is 'unlikely', improving Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea's chances of signing the Bayern Munich forward. Daily Express
Liverpool, Roma, Inter and Juventus are among clubs showing interest in Porto's Argentine winger Juan Iturbe, 20. DSSC
Newcastle will launch a second bid to sign Remy Cabella, 24, from French side Montpellier this summer. Daily Star
Arsenal may make a summer move for Valencia striker Francisco Alcacer, 20, as a replacement for out-of-favour Nicklas Bendtner, 26. DSSC
Newcastle could face a fight to keep hold of Mathieu Debuchy, 28, this summer as Roma want to sign the France full-back. Talkshit
Everton boss Roberto Martinez, 40, has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Daily Star
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admits he will seek professional help to cure anger problems, following his headbutt on Hull's David Meyler that led to a seven-match ban. Newcastle Journal
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, 28, has turned down a last-ditch attempt by Arsenal to convince him to sign a new contract. Daily Telegraph
Jermain Defoe, 31 remains hopeful he can secure a place in England's World Cup squad after his move to FC Toronto in the MLS.
DSSC
Former Tottenham coach Andre Villas-Boas could lose out to ex-Rangers boss Dick Advocaat, 66, for the managerial vacancy at Russian club Zenit St Petersburg. Daily Mirror
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 24, says his occasional on-field friction with Luis Suarez, 27, helps improve the side. Guardian
Pepe Mel admits he could be sacked if his West Brom side fail to win away to Swansea this weekend. Daily Mirror
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge reveals he has nicknamed his club and England captain Steven Gerrard 'James Bond' because the 33-year-old can do everything, football-wise. Daily Mirror
more bollox later
