BBC pundit blasts Jose Mourinho, slams Man Utd boss for being a hypocrite

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While many of us were in a rush to forget Liverpool’s encounter with Man Utd at the weekend, the debate over Jose Mourinho’s tactics continues to rage on.

The Portuguese tactician split opinion with his defensive-minded approach at Anfield on Saturday, as it became progressively evident that United were there to claim a point.

That in turn ruined the game for many as a spectacle, earning Mourinho plenty of criticism. While in contrast, others might have praised him for getting the job done in picking up a point in a difficult away trip while Liverpool could be blamed too for not taking more risks.

BBC pundit Garth Crooks though isn’t having any of the latter, as he’s hit out at Mourinho for his hypocrisy having previously criticised opposing sides who have faced his team and not tried to win the game.

“I don’t know how Mourinho has the nerve. I remember him slamming former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce for “parking the bus” having seen the Hammers produce a brilliant display at Stamford Bridge some years ago,” he noted in his BBC Sport column.

“He has also used the term to describe other performances by those who insist on containing the opposition and have refused to play an open game against his teams. So forgive my annoyance when Mourinho adopts the same tactics to save his own behind on occasions.”

Crooks attracts a lot of abuse on social media, but on this occasion it’s difficult to disagree with his assessment. Whether you agree with Mourinho’s tactics or not, one thing that he can’t do is bemoan the approach of others against his side when he is more than willing to do it himself if the game demands it.

United remain unbeaten this season and sit just two points adrift of leaders Manchester City. With Liverpool failing to close the gap at the weekend having been held to a draw, it’s unlikely that the chatter around his tactics is going to bother Mourinho too much who will undoubtedly be looking at the bigger picture and the Premier League title race.

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