Rio Ferdinand pinpoints mistake Jose Mourinho made at Man United

Ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand (Photo: BT Sport)

Rio Ferdinand says Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho paid the price for his negative approach at Manchester United.

Spurs appointed the 56-year-old as their new manager earlier this month after Mourinho took over the reins from Mauricio Pochettino at the north London club.

His appointment by the Lilywhites ended an 11-month break from football management after Mourinho was sacked by Manchester United following a 3-1 loss to Liverpool FC last December.

The Portuguese coach won the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season in charge of Manchester United before failing to add any more silverware.

However, the last 18 months of Mourinho’s reign at the 20-time English champions was shrouded in negativity to taint his reputation as a top manager.

Mourinho has led Spurs to successive victories in his opening two games following a 3-2 win over West Ham in the Premier League before a 4-2 victory over Olympiakos in the Champions League.

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand outlined where Mourinho went wrong at Old Trafford.

“He came across very grubby [towards the end],” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“When I first saw Mourinho he was at a rival club [Chelsea] but I loved watching him on TV, in his press conferences you would tune in and it was box office.

“You loved hearing him speak. Before and after games he was insightful, and there was a spark about him. Then all of a sudden it has changed to being very miserable, downbeat and grumpy.

“Players feed off a manager’s charisma and how they promote themselves in public. I just thought he was very negative in the way his body language was at the end.”

Tottenham will host Bournemouth in their next Premier League game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs are in tenth position in the Premier League table and nine points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea FC.

Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool FC in the Champions League final last term.

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