Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho hits back at critics after watching Tottenham rip Real Madrid to shreds
Portuguese chief has come in for criticism in recent weeks for defensive tactics, but Mourinho has piled praise on his players
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has hit back at critics after watching Tottenham rip Real Madrid to shreds.
The Portuguese chief has come in for criticism in recent weeks for a perceived defensive style and lack of flair in United's play.
However, Mourinho claims his side deserve some credit... because they stopped a Spurs team who thumped both Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Responding to recent criticism of him and his team's "negative" tactics, Mourinho said: "I don’t want to comment.
"Because if I comment I’m going to do a job that’s not my job and sometimes I feel I could or should and sometimes I need to cool down and think I shouldn’t.
"I know that it’s a different way of analysing things for this reason or that reason.
"Similar performances for some clubs are magic, are examples of brilliant tactics and amazing attitude by the players.
"For other teams the same type of performance is seen as negative.
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"But honestly, just as an example, Spurs beat Liverpool and Real Madrid and Tottenham didn’t score against Manchester United.
"So at least a little bit of credit my players deserve."
Meanwhile, Mourinho added he is not thinking too much about his return to Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
The United boss said: "It’s not a big thing to return to Chelsea. It’s normal. It’s football. It’s professionalism. It’s football life.
"One day you are in one club and then you are in another club, it’s a big thing because it’s a big opponent.
"A match between two top teams but the emotional point of view it’s just one more.
"I played there with Inter and twice with Manchester United.
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"I have to admit it is a little bit different but in the end I want to win like I did with Inter, they want to win like they did last season and it’s just one more day.
"In a couple of years we will be even more natural and in four or five years people will not remember I was Chelsea manager and it will become normal.
"It’s just because I left a couple of years ago.
"But it’s a big match because they are champions and we are Manchester United."
