Vertonghen prepared for Mourinho mind-games

Joe Williams

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen expects Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho to have “something to say” ahead of their clash this weekend.

United and Tottenham play on Sunday with Mourinho’s men six points behind Spurs and nine points adrift of the Champions League places.

The Spurs player was accused by Mourinho of trying to get Fernando Torres sent off by play-acting in 2013.

Vertonghen describes the way Mourinho uses the media as “part of the job” and plans on keeping his cool ahead of an important fixture.

“[Mourinho] has always got something to say. He is a good manager and he says things in the media. It’s part of the job and he plays it the way he wants to,” said Vertonghen.

“He is a great coach first of all, done great things with different teams. He has shown he is a very good coach and a colourful character, but football needs that.”

Some critics think Mourinho has lost his ‘special’ touch over the last couple of seasons but Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is in no doubt that the Portuguese boss is still a top manager.

“For me always he will always be special — a special coach, a special one,” Pochettino said.

“We cannot forget all the titles he won. He was and is a reference for all the young managers. My perspective of him will never change.

“You can’t stop to say if someone is different or has changed from a distance. What we can see from outside is an effect of what has happened. Sometimes you are upset, sometimes you are happy. It is too difficult to judge from the outside.

“I think he is the same.”