Mourinho demands 'respect, respect, respect' after Spurs loss

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho stormed out of his news conference yesterday morning (Singapore time) after a 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, ranting about the three titles he won with Chelsea and demanding "respect" from those reporters present.

Coming shortly after he had stood at length in front of a mainly empty Stretford End applauding United's fans, it added to a somewhat bizarre epilogue on another miserable night for the 20-time English champions.

"We lost against Sevilla (last season in the Champions League last 16) and we were booed because we deserved it.

"Today the players left the pitch after losing at home and they were applauded because they deserved it, so we keep trying, trying, trying," Mourinho said. "What was the score? This (holding three fingers up).

"What is this also? Three Premierships I have won, more Premierships than the other 19 managers put together.

"Me three, them two.

"Respect, respect, respect."

Perhaps the performance for the media was intended to show his defiance in the face of two defeats from the opening three games of the season.

Maybe he felt that a display of passion would go down well with the supporters at Old Trafford, who, it should be noted, showed no sign of turning against him.

Or was Mourinho just deflecting from the fact that he lacks any answer to the most obvious question facing him - how to sort out a defence that has leaked six goals in two games and was opened up with ease by Spurs after the break?

Mourinho had made it clear during the off-season that he wanted to sign at least one new centre-half and the performances of the five he has employed this season have amply demonstrated he was right.

One defender who has been performing is left-back Luke Shaw. He told MUTV: "We spoke at half-time and Jose said they hadn't had one corner, one cross or one dangerous opportunity. Then, from their first corner in the second half, they had a goal.

"But then came another mistake, another silly, stupid goal. We were so on top and it is just really disappointing." - REUTERS