Sunday 24 December 2017 16:51, UK
Did Jose Mourinho cross the line by labelling his Manchester United side "childish" after their 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Saturday? That was debated on The Sunday Supplement.
United conceded a stoppage-time equaliser at the King Power to slip 13 points behind rivals Man City at the top of the Premier League at the halfway stage of the season.
Mourinho said afterwards his side were "childish" and missed "joke chances". So what did a panel of Sunday Supplement legends think about his comments? Read on to find out some contrasting views...
"The comments were surprising because that's not his style, as we all know it's the fault of the Premier League fixture compiler if United drop points, nothing to do with the players. It's the fixtures arranged against them, or referees against them, or broadcasters...
"But he is kind of crossing the line if he starts ridiculing players in public. When you use words like childish, it's dangerous. I think it's unnecessary because, he recently talked about diversity of class within Mancunian football politics, this was a chance to show a bit.
"Manchester City are an exceptional team so Manchester United will feel that more than anybody and they cannot celebrate it the way we can. It was a really bad lapse and it's not going to help and it's going to endanger Manchester United's chances of getting second place."
"It's the kind of thing Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] would never have done. He kept it in the dressing, he would explode and the players would be on the end of it, but he didn't criticise them too much in public. That is Jose's style, he believes that will generate them to play better, I don't think it does.
"There is criticism and then there is criticism, and if it's constructive and in the press then that's fine, but using words like childish is crazy to me and that will turn players against him."
Using words like childish is crazy to me and that will turn players against him
"I disagree. We are in an era where people are far too sensitive about choice of words from managers or players or the media. These players are paid £300,000 a week and the manager is entitled to say whatever he thinks about them and they have to suffer it. They were childish and amateurish in the way they played.
"Manchester United, if you wind the clock back, were not unanimous in wanting Mourinho and there were sections who would have gone for Pep Guardiola, who is probably much better for Manchester United.
"When Guardiola went to City I think United were in panic mood and had to get someone to counter what was going to be a revolution at City and they brought in Mourinho. Now they have to suffer the consequences of a manager who is unpredictable. And what he did there we did not expect, but he is trying to wind up those players.
"First of all, the players are not good enough. There are too many young players who are emerging and will become good and they had a bad injury to a very old centre forward. But generally speaking he has not got what he expected from Paul Pogba, he is not the type of player you saw at Juventus.
"No matter how much they spend, £90m on a player… now you could spend £200m on Harry Kane - that is the kind of player Manchester United have looked at and the kind of player they need.
"He is sending is a message to the owners of the club that you have got to get that cheque book out in a big way. If Man Utd want to do well, they need better players. Look at how much they have spent, but you compare that to how much Man City have spent….
"Ferguson did far worse than call his players childish, inside the dressing room. But the game has moved on and that was his way of dealing with players. Ferguson ruled every aspect of Man Utd, all the signings and sales, and that does not happen at major football clubs anymore, it is a past era."
You can watch an exclusive interview with Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports News from 5pm on Christmas Day.
