Jermaine Jenas let rip at presenter Darren Fletcher on BBC Radio 5 Live for his claims that Jose Mourinho is once again trying to make it all about himself at Tottenham.
The BBC and BT Sports commentator also felt that someone like Mourinho shouldn’t use Instagram given that he is ‘steering the ship’ at Tottenham and mentioned how managers such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola don’t use social media platforms.
He also claimed that everything Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino built in North London could be ‘damaged’ by Mourinho because of how he is with players – the reference was his pretty forthright Instagram post following Tottenham’s defeat in the Europa League on Thursday.
This wasn’t met with a pleasant response by Jenas, who believes Mourinho’s ways are only having a ‘negative effect’ on the BBC presenter and he is making it ‘personal’ about how he feels about the Tottenham man.
“Zidane has done it,” said Jenas. “He’s got an Instagram page and he’s won four Champions Leagues. What’s the problem? It doesn’t make it wrong [after being told it doesn’t make it right].
“What do you want him to do? You don’t want to see him eating a bag of crisps on the plane. I don’t see why you have such a big gripe with it – it’s not having a negative effect. It’s only having a negative effect on you.
“I think this is ridiculous. I really do. If I was Jose listening to this. It’s a bit like what more do you want me to do? I’ve turned up to a football club. I have got a smile on my face now. Yes, I might have opened up an Instagram account, but the reality is the team’s playing some good stuff, they are scoring goals and I still have people like you having a go at me now because basically, you want me to be a manager from the 70s’.
“If he left the league tomorrow we would all be going ‘Oh Mr Personality’ [has left] – Well then you are making it personal [after Darren Fletcher suggested he wouldn’t miss Mourinho leaving the Premier League].”
In truth, it’s baffling comments by the BBC presenter because when Tottenham are winning, no-one seems to be praising him for his uplifting posts on social media.
The above noises are only made when Mourinho shares some forthright and honest views after a defeat because something dramatic and negative can come out of it.
In truth, Tottenham have needed this from Mourinho because it’s this type of mentality that will push them over the line and help them win a trophy.
All that matters is that the Tottenham team don’t seem to have a problem with Mourinho’s comments and nor do the fans, so it shouldn’t be an issue for those on the outside.
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