Jose Mourinho's second dig at Jurgen Klopp in a week shows Manchester United boss is back to his old tricks, but outbursts are composed again

Jose Mourinho was obviously seething on Thursday night, not keen on either talking about the performance of Jon Moss or his players.

Manchester United were lacklustre at Hull City, defeated for the first time in 18 games but through to this season's first final nonetheless.

And they were not helped by Moss, who penalised Marcos Rojo for tugging Harry Maguire's shirt in the box.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is back picking fights where he is at his happiest

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is back picking fights where he is at his happiest

Mourinho leaves the Lowry Hotel on Friday morning
The Portuguese boss was unimpressed by the officials during his side's poor 2-1 defeat at Hull

The Portuguese boss was unimpressed by the officials during his side's poor 2-1 defeat at Hull

Mourinho could afford to greet his chauffeur in positive fashion despite losing the second leg

Mourinho could afford to greet his chauffeur in positive fashion despite losing the second leg

Mourinho's television interview lasted just 28 seconds and it is not far out to believe that during his walk between broadcast area and press room, the Portuguese rehearsed a monologue.


'The game was totally under control, the game was what we wanted to be and something happened to open the game and then the game was open,' he said.

'Marco (Silva) is doing fantastic work and they were a very good team in both matches but in spite of this we had more power.

'We were the best team, we could score lots of goals in the first match, and today, as I was saying, the game was under control, so we deserve to be in the final. So I congratulate my players and I don't want to analyse the performance so much.

Mourinho had kind words for Hull boss and compatriot Marco Silva at the KCOM Stadium

Mourinho had kind words for Hull boss and compatriot Marco Silva at the KCOM Stadium

Jon Moss gave Hull a contentious penalty in the first half that jeopardised United's progress

Jon Moss gave Hull a contentious penalty in the first half that jeopardised United's progress

'I don't want to speak about the penalty, but I don't want also to speak about the performance because to speak about the performance again I have to say the game was in the pocket.

'The game was under control, and something happened to open the game.'

But the really intriguing part of his three-question press conference came right at the end, with a second dig at Jurgen Klopp in under a week.

The Liverpool manager clearly got under Mourinho's skin during the draw at Old Trafford earlier this month, with the pair rowing on the touchline and engaging in petty after-match tactical squabbles.

Mourinho sported a new short haircut this week as Jurgen Klopp commented on the weather

Mourinho sported a new short haircut this week as Jurgen Klopp commented on the weather

The 54-year-old has rediscovered his ability to play mind games in a calculated manner

The 54-year-old has rediscovered his ability to play mind games in a calculated manner

United's boss is picking fights, as he has always done, but in a slightly more controllable manner than we saw earlier this season and towards the end of his reign at Chelsea.

Even he made reference to that in an interview with Sky Sports, keen to point out he was not suffering from the sort of meltdown which overwhelmed him during the draw against Burnley, with referee Mark Clattenburg bearing the brunt.

'I'm calm, I behaved on the bench, not sent off, no punishment, so no more words,' Mourinho said.

Moss might have been safe but Klopp was not, Mourinho mocking his comments about the Anfield weather the night before.

Klopp claimed 'the wind was really strange' as the Reds were knocked out in their semi-final against Southampton.

Mourinho has had a second dig in a week at Klopp over his excuses for losing to Southampton

Mourinho has had a second dig in a week at Klopp over his excuses for losing to Southampton

Klopp and Mourinho clashed on the sidelines earlier this month in the draw at Old Trafford

Klopp and Mourinho clashed on the sidelines earlier this month in the draw at Old Trafford

His United counterpart would not miss an opportunity to reference that, saying: 'I don't think we are favourites against anybody.

'And it doesn't mater where we play, against who, we are never favourites, normally the stadium is windy and it's difficult.'

That came just a few days after Mourinho had taken aim at Klopp for his stance on the Chinese Super League.

Klopp cannot understand those who jet off to the Far East for mega bucks and was strong on that after Oscar swapped Chelsea for Shanghai.

Mourinho, though, clearly wants it on record that he is irked by other big personalities in Premier League dugouts.

Wayne Rooney has been linked with a £600,000-a-week deal in the Chinese Super League

Wayne Rooney has been linked with a £600,000-a-week deal in the Chinese Super League

So the question of Wayne Rooney and China gave him the perfect chance.

'I know some of my colleagues think they are more important than they are and think they can interfere in the lives of other people, but I'm not that sort of guy,' he said.

'Everybody is responsible for their own life, I'm not critical with anyone. To be honest, in Wayne's case, I have no idea, because he has never mentioned it to me.'

By and large, Mourinho has been his old self at Old Trafford during this debut season, but there are continued signs that the measured slaying is creeping back. Klopp is definitely one to watch.