Chris Wilder won his first managerial match-up with Jose Mourinho last night as his Sheffield United side thumped Tottenham 3-1.
Wilder saw his Blades side hit their stride again after a poor post-lockdown run and was speaking to press about the match when he was interrupted by Mourinho, on-camera.
The Portuguese congratulated him on the victory and Wilder was full of praise for his opposite number.
As per Sheffield United’s official Twitter page, Wilder said: “Class act, by the way. Just there, class act. He’s won everything, and it’s quite a humbling moment really when he comes up.
“His team’s just got beat 3-1, and he’s had a really poor decision go against him and I think that speaks volumes for what he’s about.”
Perhaps there’s a perception of Mourinho as a sore loser or someone who sulks when results go against him but he was magnanimous here.
He has clearly earned the respect of Wilder, whose United side have been no respecter of reputations in their first season back in the top flight.
The onus is now on the Portuguese to use all his years of experience to get Tottenham back above the likes of the Blades, let alone challenging for the top four.
Mourinho usually wins trophies everywhere he’s been – and Tottenham haven’t won one since 2008 – but he has a task on his hands to get this squad into a position to do that right now.
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