Mourinho: Tottenham stars were hiding in Arsenal defeat

Jose Mourinho gave a rather blunt assessment of his players following their derby defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates stadium.

Jose Mourinho was direct in his criticism of his team’s first-half performance as Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League.

Erik Lamela scored one of the goals of the season after coming on as substitute. However, he was also sent off, with the Gunners taking the points after Alexandre Lacazette’s second-half penalty.

Much was made of Spurs’ potent attacking-line but they were more or less ‘inexistent’ at the Emirates. Son Heung-Min went out injured in the first half and barely had a chance to impact the game. Harry Kane was uncharacteristically quiet all through. Outside of a lovely ball in the 70th minute, an offside headed goal and striking the post in the 90th, Kane was as quiet as he’s ever been in the north London derby.

Bale was even worse and had a game to forget. He was taken off just before the hour mark.

Gareth Bale's game by numbers vs. Arsenal:

0 shots
0 chances created
0 take-ons completed#NorthLondonDerby pic.twitter.com/w4kAOpjVnl
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 14, 2021

Speaking after the game, Mourinho did not hide his disappointment in his players.

“I think we played really bad in the first half. 1-1 was not a fair reflection” he told Sky Sports.

“We were poor. Defending bad, no intensity, no pressing, in terms of creative attacking football some players hiding.”

“In the second half we had control of the game, made changes to try and win it. But then it’s a penalty [and] a second yellow card for Lamela but even with 10 [men] the team tried to get a different result.”

🗣 "No post-match interviews for referees?" 🤔

Jose Mourinho makes his feelings clear about the referees decisions during the #NorthLondonDerby pic.twitter.com/IsbGqNl3JD
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 14, 2021

Mourinho also hit out at Micheal Oliver’s decision to give the Gunners a penalty in the second half.

“No post-match interviews for referees? It’s a pity. It was a mistake by Michael Oliver, maybe referees get tired [as well as players] and he had a game midweek, maybe tired.”

“Normally I’m very unlucky with him, my record with him is astonishing. Chelsea, [Man] United, Tottenham; it doesn’t matter, I’m very unlucky with such a good referee.

“I watched immediately [the penalty incident] on the iPad. It is what it is.”

“If somebody has a different opinion it has to be one of the big Arsenal fans with a season ticket. That’s the only one I’d accept a different view from because it’s passion speaking; apart from that I don’t accept a different view because it’s obvious.”