Yaya Toure has insisted there is no truth in reports claiming he became involved in a dressing-room bust-up with team-mate Mario Balotelli.
Midfielder says City are sticking together and still in title fight
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has insisted there is no truth in reports claiming he became involved in a dressing-room bust-up with Mario Balotelli.
It had been claimed that the pair fought at half-time on Saturday as City drew 3-3 with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium, having clashed previously in the defeat at Swansea.
However, Toure maintains that very little was said by the players at the interval and he still has a good relationship with Balotelli.
"They said I fought with Mario at Swansea and against Sunderland," he said in an interview with the
Daily Mail. "That shocked me. My lawyers called me about this and it was the first I knew about it.
"It's just not true. It didn't happen. I am a footballer, not a boxer. People don't know my relationship with Mario. He's not my friend, he's my brother and I love him. To say we had a fight is very sad. It upset me and I feel sorry for Mario. He suffers most from these things.
"At half-time against Sunderland it was very difficult. We are trying to win the league and are losing 2-1. It's not good. But everybody was quiet. We were just looking at each other, trying to find a way to turn the result.
"But I didn't even talk to Mario. The next day he sent me a text message saying, 'Apparently we had a fight'. I just want to stop people writing and thinking that."
Big fault
Balotelli also rowed with Aleksandar Kolarov on Saturday about who should take a free-kick and there has been speculation that Roberto Mancini could be prepared to sell him in the summer.
Toure accepts that the Italian striker does not help himself with some of his behaviour but would like the club to keep hold of him.
"The decision is down to the club,' said Toure. "But I want him to stay. He will have more experience in the future and get more things right.
"I don't know what goes through his mind sometimes and I do get upset when he does something wrong. He has to understand he plays for Manchester City and he has to be professional.
"Mario is a fantastic player and person but his big fault is in his character and behaviour with people. We talk about that."
Not finished yet
City's draw with Sunderland allowed Manchester United to move five points clear at the top of the table with a win over Blackburn on Monday, but Toure is refusing to give up hope of winning the title.
"Form changes because the Premier League is strong and the season very long," said the midfielder. "In Spain you can tell with 15 games left who will win the league. It's not like that here.
"It's difficult at the moment as lots of bad things have happened to us recently. We have had some games when we have looked tired and have looked like a very poor team.
"'It will be hard for us now as our fixtures are very hard but we must not let ourselves down.
"We have to be realists. We have to win something this year as we have a fantastic squad. To win nothing isn't acceptable. But I am keeping my confidence.
"I am sure we can give Manchester United the right fight. It's not finished yet."
