Stoke boss Mark Hughes hits back at 'lazy' jibe from Jose Mourinho by claiming 'Manchester United play more long balls than us'... but do they?
- Mark Hughes and Jose Mourinho clashed during Saturday's 2-2 draw
- Mourinho refused to shake hands with Hughes who had pushed him and sworn
- The Portuguese then criticised Stoke for their apparent direct style of play
- But Hughes has hit back and suggested United played just as many long balls
The row between Mark Hughes and Jose Mourinho has continued after the Stoke manager hit back at his rival's claim that Saturday's 2-2 draw was a 'game for Fellaini'.
Hughes pushed Mourinho during a touchline spat at the bet365 Stadium and allegedly told the Manchester United boss to 'f*** off'.
Mourinho, who refused to shake hands with Hughes, later criticised Stoke's direct style of play. Hughes thinks such accusations are 'lazy'.
Mark Hughes has continued his public row with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
Stoke City boss Hughes and Mourinho embraced before Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw
But Mourinho refused to shake hands afterwards and Hughes responded with a sarcastic wave
'That’s just an easy swipe at us really,' said Hughes. 'You could argue United played more long balls, and why wouldn’t they? They’ve got power and pace and if they can get those players ahead of the ball with good accuracy, they’ve got pace and power to burn.
'So 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 and that’s what they try to exploit.
'I think it’s a bit lazy of people to keep on reverting to that "Stoke are a physical team" thing.
'Goodness knows, we had too many free-kicks against us, but that wasn’t because we’re a physical team, it was because the referee misinterpreted too many things in my view.'
The managers clashed on the touchline and Mourinho later joked it had been 'game for Fellaini'
Mourinho's cheeky quip was a jibe at Stoke for their apparent direct long-ball style of play
Hughes has called such accusations 'lazy' as he insists Stoke have evolved in recent seasons
Hughes believes Stoke have evolved significantly since he replaced Tony Pulis as manager back in 2013.
Indeed, this season's statistics do seem to suggest that the Potters are no longer a direct team.
Stoke have only launched 235 long balls in the Premier League this term.
That is fewer than the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs, but it is worth noting that these sides play more passes in general - long or short - than Stoke as they tend to have a greater share of possession in their games.
Hughes added: 'Overall we have changed, we’re a different type of team. I try to bring good players here and we try to play football and I think you saw evidence of that.'
- Mark Hughes allegedly told Jose Mourinho to 'f*** off' | Daily Mail Online
- Jose Mourinho News: Manchester United Manager Latest Plus Every Interview | Daily Mail Online
- Chelsea F.C. - Latest Team and Transfer News | Daily Mail Online
- Liverpool F.C. - Latest Team and Transfer News | Daily Mail Online
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. - Latest Team and Transfer News | Daily Mail Online
- Stoke City 2-2 Man United: Choupo-Moting ends 100% record | Daily Mail Online
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