Jose Mourinho has claimed Manchester United did not lose from a “tactical point of view” despite falling to a 3-0 defeat against Tottenham on Monday night.
Spurs sealed their first win at Old Trafford under Mauricio Pochettino thanks to Harry Kane’s opener and a brilliant Lucas Moura brace.
United were the better side in the first half, attempting 10 efforts to Tottenham’s two, but Romelu Lukaku missed the hosts’ best chance after round Hugo Lloris and slotting wide of an empty goal.
The hosts were made to pay for their poor finishing when Kane headed Spurs into the lead early in the second half. Two more from Moura sealed a memorable win for Pochettino’s men.
But Mourinho, who eventually stormed out of his post-match press conference, told reporters his side were not the losers in a “strategic sense”.
“We work all week, and by the strategic point of view we didn’t lose, by the tactical point of view we didn’t lose, but we lost the game,” said the United boss (via the Independent).
“We work very, very well during the week, we prepared the game very well, we played very well, the players had a fantastic attitude.
“At half-time the result should be two goals different minimum – 2-0, 3-1, 3-0. And then something changed the game a little bit.
“Then the result was 2-0 but the team was in the game, and I think everyone could feel one goal could change the direction of the game.
“I think Tottenham felt it, we were feeling that too. But then the third goal came and killed the game.”
Despite United’s first half dominance, it was arguably Pochettino who got the better of Mourinho tactically.
Tottenham exploited the gaps left by United clinically, consigning Mourinho to his heaviest home defeat ever as a manager.
Next up for Spurs is a trip to Watford on Sunday.
That man talks so much bollocks it’s embarrassing. He won the tactical battle but lost the war. What a complete cunt. His team raced out the blocks huffing and puffing in the first half fair enough but were outdone in the second half by the tactical nouce of Pochettino. Spurs changed gears and his team couldn’t handle it. Mourinho has no grace.
Poch is very tactical manager,hats off to Poch, Mourinho had no answers ,teams knows how to play Mourinhos way now .He needs to change his attitude , maybe then things will get better