Some Spurs fans were quite pleased to see Jose Mourinho hit back at Paul Merson in his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon.
On the back of Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Friday, in which the home side opted to defend with a low-block and counter-attack, Merson was quite critical of the Spurs’ negative approach.
In fact, the former Arsenal midfielder suggested that Harry Kane should look to leave the North Londoners since he is not going to get anywhere close 25-30 goals playing for Mourinho (Sky Sports).
In response to Merson, the Spurs boss proceeded to give the goalscoring stats of the various strikers he has managed including the likes of Didier Drogba, Diego Milito and Karim Benzema, in order to prove Merson wrong (Football.London).
It was a typical Jose response and some Spurs fans were delighted to see the special one put Merson in his place.
Kane answered his doubters in the best possible way when he scored Tottenham’s second goal in their 2-0 win against the Hammers last night.
However, a few others insisted they would have prefered the Tottenham boss not to respond to clueless pundits like the former Arsenal man.
Mourinho should NOT make that rant to an idiot (Spurs hater) like Paul Merson. He should not care what he says. Who cares.
It reminds me a tiny bit of the respect respect respect..
Jose simply cannot control it when he gets attacked.#THFC #Mourinhorant— David Williams (@DavidWilliamsDK) June 22, 2020
Why does Mourinho reply to ex player’s especially a gooner
Can you imagine Brian Clough or Bobby Robson coming back at Merson
he is like a baby @POCH https://t.co/sFdgcvwOrY— simon day (@simonday24) June 22, 2020
? Paul Merson on Harry Kane: "I don't see him getting 25-30 goals a season the way Jose will want to play."
? Strikers average goals per season under Jose:
?? Drogba – 46
?? Cristiano – 56
?? Benzema – 26
?? Milito – 30
?? Zlatan – 29? Kane already has 7 in 11#THFC #COYS
— TranSPURS (@TranSPURS) June 22, 2020
Absolutely bang on from Jose Mourinho ?
Don’t think anyone can question his ability with the career he’s had.
What he’s done at Chelsea, Inter and RMA even with Utd with strikers was exceptional and we loved it at the time!#Merson #Kane #Tottenham #THFC https://t.co/rxIvO2VFc5— Antonio Mango (@AntonioMango4) June 22, 2020
Merson is wrong about pretty much everything, the fact he said this actually probably makes the likelihood of Kane scoring 25-30 goals a season even more probable.
— Noboru Kuno (@PorousDonkey) June 22, 2020
Imagine having to challenge Paul Merson as a "football pundit". He may have played the game, but he is clueless.
— Sam Lakin (@SamLakin13) June 22, 2020
Mourinho has absolutely rinsed Merson. ?
— Jamie Durrant (@JDuzza10) June 22, 2020
The way mourinho backed the stats to finish merson??
— Ronalquinnho17 (@RonalQuinnho17) June 22, 2020
Why does he have respect for a man that is a professional troll of Spurs. I'd have much more respect for Mourinho if he just said Merson was a clown and not worth listening to
— Quintessential Londoner (@Ess_Londoner) June 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/jxmes7799/status/1275053403861901314
Spurs Web Opinion
I actually did not think Jose lost his cool at all. He did not get emotional and calmly proved why Merson’s arguments were not well thought out.
I also do not think it was just these comments that Jose was responding to. Merson has been extremely critical of the Portuguese coach right from the day he arrived at Spurs.
I think this was a warning by the Spurs boss to the former Arsenal midfielder that he was capable of hitting back if he keeps unfairly criticising him.