Hughes hit back at United boss Mourinho’s ‘lazy’ labelling of Stoke as defensive and physical with the pair’s fall-out showing no sign of ending.
The rival managers rowed on the touchline on Saturday with the Potters boss shoving his opposite number and Mourinho refusing to shake Hughes’s hand at the final whistle.
United sources claimed Hughes had told Mourinho to “f*** off” during the game.
Mourinho then said after the game that Stoke had played for a draw and United had missed injured powerhouse Marouane Fellaini - a clear suggestion that Hughes’s side relied on physical tactics.
“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.”
Tempers flared as Stoke summer signing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting bagged a brace to end the leader’s perfect start to the Premier League season.
The Cameroon international became the first player to score against Manchester United in the league this season and Hughes’s men became the first side to deny Mourinho maximum points.
Having moved from Schalke on a summer free transfer, the 28-year-old opened the scoring with a 43rd-minute shot then equalised with a header on 63 minutes after Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku netted for United.
“He’s big, he’s powerful and technically he’s excellent,” said Hughes. “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.
“He’s got a big smile on his face, he’s very articulate and we’re delighted he’s here.”
Choupo-Moting broke the deadlock from a Mame Diouf cross but Rashford grabbed a unintentional equaliser in first-half stoppage time as Paul Pogba’s header hit him and ricocheted in.
Stoke’s hero headed home a Xherdan Shaqiri cross to secure a point after Lukaku had netted his fourth goal in four appearances from a superb Henrikh Mkhitaryan pass.
Lukaku now can’t wait for his Champions League debut at home to Basel tomorrow.
Midfielder Ander Herrera is backing the Belgian hitman to flourish but has warned United not to set their sights too high.
“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 and 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). Subs: Grant, Tymon, Adam, Crouch, Ramadan.UP NEXT: Newcastle (a), Premier League, Saturday.
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). Subs: Romero, Smalling, Carrick, Blind.UP NEXT: Basel (h), Champions League, tomorrow.Referee: Neil Swarbrick 7Your turn: Who scored United’s last-minute equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Stoke last season?
STAR PLAYER ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING - Two goals capped lively displaySTAR SHOCKER PHIL JONES - Two mistakes, two goals.MATCH RATING 4
