Man Utd news: Mark Hughes accuses Jose Mourinho of lazy jibes after touchline fall-out

MARK HUGHES accused Jose Mourinho of ‘lazy’ jibes at Stoke as the rival managers’ touchline fall-out rumbled on last night.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho argued on the touchline REUTERS

Stoke boss Mark Hughes and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho argued on the touchline

Hughes accused United of playing more long balls than Stoke as he hit back at Mourinho’s implied criticism in the wake of Saturday’s draw in the Potteries.

The pair clashed on the touchline with the Stoke boss shoving the Portuguese gaffer and allegedly telling him to ‘f*** off’ before the United manager refused his offer of a handshake at the final whistle.

Mourinho then aimed subtle digs at the Potters after the game, branding them defensive and claiming United had needed injured midfielder Marouane Fellaini with the clear implication that Stoke relied on a physical approach.

“That’s just an easy swipe at us,” said Hughes. “You could argue United played more long balls and why wouldn’t they, because they’ve got power and pace to burn?

“I don’t know what the stats are but I’d argue that in general play they played more long balls than we did because they’ve got that threat.

“It’s a bit lazy of people to keep on reverting to that ‘Stoke are a physical team’ thing.”

That’s just an easy swipe at us

Stoke boss Mark Hughes

The managers went head to head as they watched Stoke end United’s perfect start to the Premier League season thanks to two goals from Potters summer signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

The Cameroon international opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when he turned home Mame Diouf’s cross then secured a point for his side when he headed in a corner from Xherdan Shaqiri.

“He’s big, he’s powerful and technically he’s excellent, he can take the ball and create in one-on-one situations and he’s not a kid so he’s not really a risk,” said Hughes.

“He has a big smile on his face, he’s very articulate and we’re delighted he’s here.”

Between Choupo-Moting’s big moments, Marcus Rashford equalised for United with a goal he knew nothing about as Paul Pogba’s header struck him and flew in, then Romelu Lukaku netted his fourth goal in as many Manchester United appearances from a superb Henrikh Mkhitaryan pass.

The Belgian will now try to carry his form into the Champions League but midfielder Ander Herrera is calling for caution ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Basel.

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“It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t played Champions League before, he has scored goals and played in the best league in the world so he will score goals for us,” said the Spaniard.

“We are a big club – maybe the biggest in the world – but we were not in Champions League last season and we have to take it step by step. We cannot think of winning the Champions League now we have to take it one step at a time.”

STOKE (3-4-2-1): Butland 7; Zouma 7, Cameron 6 (Martins Indi 46, 6), Wimmer 5; Diouf 6, Allen 6, Fletcher 7, Pieters 5; Shaqiri 6, Choupo-Moting 8; Jese 6 (Berahino 75). Goals: Choupo-Moting 43, 63. Next up: Newcastle (a), Saturday, PL.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-1-2): De Gea 7; Valencia 6, Bailly 6, Jones 5, Darmian 6; Herrera 6 (Martial 72), Matic 7, Pogba 6; Mkhitaryan 8 (Lingard 84); Lukaku 7, Rashford 7 (Mata 72). Goals: Rashford 45, Lukaku 57. Next up: Basel (h), tomorrow, CL.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).

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