Skip to content

Mark Hughes disagrees with Jose Mourinho over handshake snub after Man Utd draw at Stoke

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Stoke manager Mark Hughes explains why he thinks Jose Mourinho wouldn't shake his hand after the 2-2 draw between Stoke and Manchester United

Stoke manager Mark Hughes accused Jose Mourinho of sour grapes for refusing his post-match handshake after Manchester United's winning run ended.

United dropped Premier League points for the first time this season as Maxim Choupo-Moting capitalised on errors from Eric Bailly and Phil Jones to net twice either side of efforts from Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku.

Mourinho was dismissive of what he perceived to be defensive tactics from the Potters in the 2-2 draw - a claim Hughes refuted - and at one point during the game the Portuguese was pushed by his counterpart when he entered his technical area.

There was then no handshake after the final whistle, a custom Hughes has previously been snubbed for by Tony Pulis and Arsene Wenger, and the Potters boss accused Mourinho of taking the result poorly.

Live Nissan Super Sunday

"I pushed him because he was in my technical area," Hughes said.

"Maybe that's why he didn't want to shake my hand. Maybe it's because it has to be viewed as a negative result for him, coming to Stoke when everybody expected them to beat us.

"It's a negative. Sometimes managers of top-six clubs don't take negative results too kindly. Sometimes, because they're not used to having to take negative results, sometimes they react in the wrong way. Maybe he reacted in the wrong way.

Also See:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Premier League highlights of Stoke 2-2 Man Utd

"In fairness, I've got history with non-handshakes so maybe it's me! Who knows?"

Mourinho brushed aside the issue in his post-match press conference, though he was keen to stress he was not in the wrong when asked before his press conference.

"I prefer not to answer the question about handshakes - it's a bad question," he said. "It makes it look like it's my fault but that's not right."

Tuesday's Super 6
Tuesday's Super 6

There's £250k up for grabs in this Tuesday's Super 6. Enter your predictions for free here.

Around Sky