Jose Mourinho hailed Tottenham centre-backs Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier as the “best in Europe” in the wake of Manchester United’s 1-0 Premier League win on Saturday.
Spurs persisted with the three-man defence that has served them so well this season at Old Trafford, although Dier dropped back from his usual midfield slot this season to replace the axed Davinson Sanchez.
That did not stop United manager Mourinho hailing the Tottenham defenders following a match settled by substitute Anthony Martial’s late goal.
The Portugese delivered his verdict after he was asked for his thoughts on the strike partnership of Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.
“They work amazingly well,” Mourinho said to Sky Sports’ Premier League channel that broadcast the match. “Today, they were two strikers playing together against three top central defenders, who are the best we have in Europe.
“They (Lukaku and Rashford) had to do their defensive job of pressing them (Tottenham’s players) coming out with the ball, which they do really well because they have big routines with playing with three at the back.
“On top of that, they gave us solutions to get away from the pressure. Their work was amazing.”
OPINION
Every Mourinho comment in the media is so heavily loaded, it is difficult to know if it’s what he really thinks or whether he is merely trying to manipulate how his team and his own work is viewed. Certainly, Spurs’ defence has been the best in the Premier League over the last three seasons, irrespective of the formation that Mauricio Pochettino fields. However, it is somewhat premature to hail them as the best in Europe, given that they have yet to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League or prove themselves consistently against the finest offences on the planet.