West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has labelled Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho a 'top man' ahead of Saturday's clash between the two London clubs at Upton Park.

Ahead of the vital Premier League fixture, Bilic recounted how Mourinho had sought out the Croatian manager's phone number from former Chelsea striker Demba Ba - whom Bilic managed at Besiktas - after Bilic was first appointed Hammers boss.

"I was back home in Split in Croatia," Bilic said, as quoted by The Guardian.

"I thought that someone is winding me up, of course.

"[Demba Ba] said the boss asked him for my number. I was pleased and since then we are exchanging texts. I like him a lot. I really like him.

"He is not boring. He is everything but boring. For the media as well, he is like a magnet. He is a top, top man."