Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has heaped praise on “inspirational” Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho, 55, has come under criticism from fans and pundits alike after his side lost 3-2 to Brighton last weekend, but Pochettino has come out in defence of the Portuguese tactician ahead of his side’s clash with the Red Devils on Monday night.
The former Real Madrid boss endured a difficult pre-season and has reportedly fallen out with director Ed Woodward after the club failed to significantly bolster their armoury over the summer – reports that Mourinho himself has dismissed.
Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford has often been epitomised by his less-than-cordial relationship with the English media, and that was evident on Friday as he walked out of his press conference after just four minutes.
Despite this, Pochettino has lauded the Portuguese manager, citing his experience facing Mourinho’s Real Madrid side during his stint in charge of Espanyol in La Liga as reason for his respect and admiration.
“For every single manager who is younger than him, he was an inspiration,” Pochettino said, as reported by Goal.
“For everyone. Of course. I took a lot of things from him. So many things. He is an unbelievable manager.
“I am younger than him, of course. The circumstances that happen with me, that happen with other managers, they will happen, it is up and down.
“He is an inspirational manager for a manager like me. I have a very good relationship with Mou from when I was a manager of Espanyol and I have full respect for him and the club.”
Spurs face an ominous task when they travel to Old Trafford on Monday evening, as the north London club have lost more away Premier League matches against Man Utd (21) than any team has lost away to any opposition since the league’s inception.
It has also been four years since a London club have won at Old Trafford, it was Spurs who clinched victory over the Red Devils on New Year’s Day in 2014.
Pochettino will be looking to join Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford by winning three consecutive Premier League matches to start the season.
Mourinho and co., on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat.
The post Mauricio Pochettino: Jose Mourinho is an inspiration to me appeared first on Squawka News.
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