‘Clear as day’ – Jenas blasts decision Mourinho made against Man Utd

Jermaine Jenas has hammered Jose Mourinho for bringing Moussa Sissoko on for Giovani Lo Celso in the second half against Manchester United when the game was finely poised at 1-1. 

The first half was an evenly contested affair, with Tottenham certainly giving as good as they got.

The home side would have been pleased to go into the interval 1-0 up, particularly after Edison Cavani’s opener was ruled out for Scott McTominay’s foul on Son Heung-min in the build-up just minutes before the South Korean gave Spurs the lead.

However, it was United who started the second half the stronger side and eventually found an equaliser through Fred just before the hour mark.

Soon after the equaliser, Mourinho decided to take Giovani Lo Celso off and bring on Moussa Sissoko while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Mason Greenwood for Marcus Rashford. 

Spurs responded well after United’s equaliser but it was the away side who scored against the run of play as Cavani headed home to give them a 2-1 lead before a late counter-attack was hammered home by Greenwood to put the icing on the cake for the Red Devils.

Jenas believes that the substitutions made by Mourinho and Solskjaer were indicative of their contrasting mindsets.

The former Spurs midfielder said on BBC Match of the Day 2 (as relayed by TBR Football): “It’s clear as day. You’ve got one team who wants to win the game in Manchester United, they’re making changes like Mason Greenwood coming onto the pitch.

“Then you’ve got Tottenham trying not to lose a game of football. Mourinho has put Lo Celso on and took Sissoko off. He’s got players like Dele Alli and Gareth Bale on the bench.

“It’s the mindset the team has had all season long and it’s the reason they won’t get in the Champions League.”

Spurs Web Opinion 

I think Jenas’ assessment is harsh as Lo Celso did not have the legs to play 90 minutes, having only recently returned from a long-term injury lay off. Winks is the only other player Jose could have brought on and the 25-year-old has struggled when he has had opportunities over recent months.

I thought bringing Sissoko on and moving Ndombele further forward was actually a smart move as I thought the former Lyon man could make a difference in the final third with United’s defence tiring. However, their forwards were clinical in the second half and that proved to be the difference between the sides.

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