The reaction to Jose Mourinho’s strategy against Liverpool at the weekend was not unlike the public outcry that followed Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
One party was tediously defensive while the other struggled to take as many risks as previously excited fans might have hoped for.
The build-up was predictably bombastic for both but neither lived up to the potential and all that was left was for pundits to cast their eyes back and point fingers about who should have done what better.
On the Garth Crooks scale, his comments on United’s 0-0 stalemate at Anfield won’t even register but they are still absolutely damning on Mourinho’s character.
People who are saying Jose Mourinho was "pragmatic" against Liverpool have it all wrong | @RobRedmond10 https://t.co/241GXoHA7n
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 15, 2017
The BBC pundit who, throughout his recent career, has selected five-man forward lines, credited David Luiz with a pass he didn’t make and bizarrely left Jamie Vardy out of his Team of the Season last year, has gone so far as to describe Mourinho’s lack of ambition on Saturday afternoon as “cowardly” in his weekly BBC Team of the Week column.
“Sir Alex Ferguson would never have subjected United fans, or one of his teams, to such a cowardly display, especially at Liverpool,” Crooks said of Mourinho’s tactics.
“United going to Anfield looking for a draw? Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola must be laughing himself to sleep.”
Prior to the game, Mourinho joked that he would start nine strikers against Liverpool in response to suggestions that he would employ a defensive strategy.
The #MUFC manager jokes about his tactics for tomorrow's game… pic.twitter.com/3muHsaVmSl
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 13, 2017
And the latest glimpse at Mourinho’s bus-parking ways really got Crooks worked up as he recalled the United manager’s condemnation of other sides’ use of such schemes.
“I don’t know how Mourinho has the nerve,” Crooks continued.
“I remember him slamming former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce for ‘parking the bus’ having seen the Hammers produce a brilliant display at Stamford Bridge some years ago.
“He has also used the term to describe other performances by those who insist on containing the opposition and have refused to play an open game against his teams.
“So forgive my annoyance when Mourinho adopts the same tactics to save his own behind on occasions.”
