Yaya Toure: Jose Mourinho lacks respect for his opponents

Yaya Toure criticises Jose Mourinho

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has criticised Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho for his press criticism of other sides, accusing the Chelsea manager of lacking respect for his opponents. The Ivory Coast midfielder believes that Mourinho is playing up to the English press, before adding his own jibe by suggesting that the Portuguese’s fascination with other teams was the reason that his Real Madrid side struggled against Barcelona during the Portuguese’s reign at the club. Furthermore, only yesterday, Real Madrid’s Pepe had a few strong words to say about Mourinho.

Toure also refuted Mourinho’s claims that City are the favourites for the Premier League title, before denying that City’s season will be a failure should they fail to win the title.

“I think he talks more than before, perhaps because the English press likes it,”opened Toure on Mourinho, who has frequently played down his side’s title chances this season and has drawn criticism for his treatment of City boss Manuel Pellegrini and for calling Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a “specialist in failure.”

“He is a coach and he must give respect a little bit. He is always talking about everyone and that is not the correct way. That is why Barcelona always beat Madrid when Mourinho was here.”

Toure, who has scored 13 league goals in 25 appearances this season, continued by denying Mourinho’s claims that City are title favourites.

“Not at all,” the 30 year old said.

“Chelsea are nine points ahead. Yes, we have three games in hand but we could lose all three of them. Chelsea, for me, are the favourites.”

The Citizens have already secured the Capital One Cup glory this season, but have seen their FA Cup and Champions League hopes thwarted in the past week. However, Toure believes that their season does not hinge purely on winning the Premier League.

“Why? Why would it be? We have already won a cup. You cannot say that. Football is a competition – only one team can win each of the trophies,” he continued.

“Don’t say we’d be failures when we’ve won something already. Now we want to win more but teams are desperate to beat us, so it’s always tough. Teams are very motivated against us. You have to understand we are not a machine.”