• Week in Words

Barton wants to be more like Cantona

November 3, 2013

In the latest edition of our favourite quotes from the sporting week, Joey Barton reveals he wants to be more like Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, Yaya Toure is awful at maths, and Joe Kinnear tries to sign a player for Newcastle United from... Newcastle United.

"I would never ask for a fan to be banned for getting carried away. We all do it at football matches. But enough is enough. The next one is getting Cantona-ed"

Joey Barton reacts to being hit by a bottle thrown by a Burnley fan, but quickly insists it was a joke. Is anyone going to take the chance?

"Shane Ferguson had a particularly good game that night and Joe Kinnear told one of our officials he was interested in signing him"

A Birmingham City source tells the Sunday People how Newcastle director of football Kinnear asked about the availability of Ferguson - a player already contracted to the St James' Park club and currently on-loan at City

"United will find it hard to defend the title since they have a new manager and are really struggling"

Someone tell Yaya Toure that Manchester City also have a new manager and are just two points ahead of United

"Whether we realised it at that at the time or not, we had bloody good players, bloody good coaches and a brilliant opportunity to go and do it"

And so you did, World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson

"The English just can't accept they lost to our country in a fair fight. We don't believe racist behaviour by our fans has been proven"

CSKA managing director Roman Babaev bizarrely claims Yaya Toure lied about being racially abused - in revenge of England losing out to Russia in the World Cup 2018 bid

"I think what really bothers the kid is that he knows what Andre did to him with a broken hand. I think there is something deep down inside that haunts him every day and eats away at him"

Trainer Virgil Hunter believes Carl Froch is a broken record when it comes to talking about his defeat to Andre Ward

"All of you and the players and me saw what happened"

Manuel Pellegrini gives his verdict on Chelsea's second goal against his side Manchester City after Joe Hart's blunder let in Fernando Torres to score an injury-time winner

"I lost it once against Morten Gamst Pedersen. I poked his eye. Afterwards, I was like, 'What are you doing? This is stupid!' but you get upset, you get frustrated and you do some stuff. It's not right"

Luis Suarez will feel a whole lot better after Mikel Arteta admits to this incident a long time ago

"Since 2007, Manchester United winger Nani has struck fear into the hearts and minds of Premier League defenders, terrorising them from either flank with his seemingly infinite box of tricks"

Manchester United's official website have got their holidays mixed-up - it's Hallowe'en, not April Fool's Day

"No other club has to call me until 2018"

If anyone does try to call Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, we know it'll be going straight through to voicemail

For more of ESPN's favourite quotes from the sporting world, visit our Quote/Unquote section.

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