‘Backfired big time’ – Paul Merson claims Mourinho should have kept quiet over Fulham claim

Sunday saw Spurs return to winning ways with a hard-fought 3-1 away to Sheffield United. However, a sense of regret still hovers above the North London club following the disappointing draw to Fulham last Wednesday evening.

The Lilywhites were left frustrated by the Premier League newcomers with Scott Parker’s side showing during the second half that they could roll up their sleeves and get a valuable point on the road.

However, the match hit the headlines due to the controversial build-up to the spectacle. The initial clash between the two sides scheduled for the end of December was postponed by Fulham less than three hours before kick-off, a decision that left Jose Mourinho infuriated (Independent).

Spurs were due to travel to Villa Park last Wednesday, only for a COVID-19 outbreak at Aston Villa left the Midlands side unable to play (Daily Mail).  Instead, the Premier League shuffled the fixture calendar and Fulham were tasked with the opportunity of a re-scheduled trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Such decision meant that both sides had just a matter of days to prepare for the fixture.

The Portuguese manager claimed that Parker should ‘apologise’ if he was to field a strong team against Spurs (Daily Mail).

However, Merson claims that such a call backfired on Mourinho. During an appearance on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (16/01/21 at 12:25 pm), the former England international said: “I don’t know what the rule is. I don’t know if the Premier League have sat down with all the CEO’s of the football club and said ‘we might have to call on you’ and that’s the problem.

“I was saying to Tim [Sherwood] that the longer Mourinho kept on going on about it. I was thinking ‘just be quiet now. Just be quiet’ because this is going to be a cup final for Fulham now.

“And he was going on and on, ‘Oh, if he plays his best team. He should be apologising’. He [Parker] won’t have to say anything, at the moment and it backfired. It backfired big time.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

Mourinho’s prior to the match certainly seems to be one of frustration, especially after the initial postponement of the match. Although it may have fuelled Fulham, Spurs should’ve still had the quality to defeat their London rivals.