Tottenham vs Liverpool: Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho shock viewers by joining forces to criticise Tottenham
Former Premier league rivals were sat side-by-side for the the Champions League final in Madrid
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Champions League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool was not the only heavyweight clash in Madrid on Saturday night as long-time Premier League rivals Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho collided once again.
The pair joined forces in the Bein Sports studio to provide the best cutting edge analysis available, with two of the most successful managers in football history hitting all of their rivals out of the park.
Fans watching on the Middle Eastern broadcaster were sitting in anticipation at the two old foes going toe-to-toe once again, having enjoyed a long and, at times, aggressive rivalry during the days with Arsenal and Chelsea.
So it came as a huge surprise when Wenger, having given his assessment on a poor first half for Spurs, looked at Mourinho only for the Portuguese to agree with the Frenchman.
“Control is a big word because overall I feel that Tottenham tried to combine, but Liverpool look a bit more mature and I would say they look closer to a second goal than Tottenham do to an equaliser,” Wenger said of the club that posed his biggest rivalry during his 22 years with Arsenal.
“They defend, then go on counter attack but they do it in a consistent way. You feel that at some stage they will get another goal.
“Tottenham doesn’t look ... we spoke about Kane, he doesn’t look ready and overall only Son looked dangerous, especially going in behind Alexander(-Arnold). I think Liverpool is closer to scoring a second goal than Tottenham are to equalising.”
Wenger was clearly unimpressed with how Tottenham had responded to the early Mohamed Salah penalty, which was awarded some 26 seconds into the final after Moussa Sissoko handled Sadio Mane’s cross.
But even more surprising than that decision from referee Damir Skomina was the fact the Mourinho backed up Wenger in giving the same view in criticising Spurs for a lacklustre first half.
“Football is football and you never know what can happen,” Mourinho said. “Sometimes it’s very unpredictable and things happen that you don’t expect, but if you look to the first half than I would say so, I would say that the game looks in (Liverpool’s) control.
“The reality is that Tottenham had 61 per cent of possession but had zero shots on target and they missed lots of passes, they couldn’t link the play. Harry Kane was hidden all the time, normally he drops back, normally he comes in between the lines, normally he’s the link player - receives the ball from one side, he goes in between the lines, spins, he turns, plays it to the full-back and goes into the box – nothing of this dynamic.
“Liverpool, I don’t think they were phenomenal but the game was under control. They scored that penalty starting with intentions of playing the ball behind the defensive line, so they tried immediately with 20 seconds to exploit that. They kept trying, Van Dijk had another long ball to Mane so they know where they hurt Tottenham. I think the two kids, the two full-backs, are phenomenal in their intention of their attack and aggressivity (sic) when the team has the ball the present themselves well. Alexander-Arnold gives a lot on the right, Robertson on the left had the second shot and Liverpool with less possession have more. They had more.
“So I would say so, I have to agree, and normally Liverpool would be closer to the second goal but who knows what can happen in these dressing rooms, and can they influence the game in the second half?”
Could this be the start of a blossoming friendship?
The two are both currently out of management and time away from the dug-out appears to have placated any tensions that remained between them, given that the sight of the pair sitting next to each other in a TV studio inside the Wanda Metropolitano was not one anyone would have expected a few years ago.
Liverpool eventually justified what the pair were describing a they did indeed get the second goal, with substitute Divock Origi doubling the lead just minutes from full-time.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments