'I was reading the game and had no bench to react to it': Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho unhappy with lack of alternative attacking options in draw against Manchester United
- Jose Mourinho was frustrated with his lack of attacking substitutes available
- Mourinho feels situation will improve when Lucas Moura and Dele Alli are back
- Mourinho also disappointed with penalty decision which was then overturned
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho admitted that he had mixed feelings after his side's 1-1 draw at home to his former club Manchester United.
The hosts took the lead courtesy of Steven Bergwijn's first half goal, but United improved significantly in the second half and took a point, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty.
Mourinho's team are in eighth place, four points adrift of United and six behind Chelsea, who are currently in fourth.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was unhappy with the lack of attacking options on his bench
Mourinho was frustrated with the lack of attacking options on his bench with Lucas Moura and Dele Alli unavailable due to injury and suspension respectively.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in stark contrast, had various options to choose from, including the likes of Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood.
In addition, Mourinho was unhappy that referee Jon Moss awarded a second penalty against his side, although the decision was eventually overturned by VAR.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game Mourinho said: 'I'm happy with some things, unhappy with others.
'I liked the team attitude, the team organisation, the control, following the plan, being very solid, giving to United what they don't like and really, really happy with that.
'I'm unhappy with the fact that the way I was reading the game I had no bench to react to it, with Lucas and Dele they would be on the bench or they would be playing. When they became more dominant, we were quite tired. It was hard to manage the game in that sense.'
Mourinho was left frustrated, with Lucas Moura and Dele Alli both unavailable for selection
Mourinho ended up making just two of the five substitutions that were available to him, with Giovani Lo Celso and Gedson Fernandes both entering the fray.
Both penalty decisions irritated Mourinho, especially the second, which was later overturned. Mourinho felt that referee Jon Moss should have given Tottenham a free-kick instead for a challenge by Marcus Rashford on Serge Aurier.
Mourinho said: 'I'm not also happy with the penalty and the second penalty.'
On the first penalty decision, Mourinho commented: 'I'm unhappy with the VAR, not with the referee. The referee in the game can make a mistake but then the VAR is there to do a job.
'In the second I'm unhappy with Moss because he didn't give the free-kick on Aurier. He gave a cheap penalty, a non-penalty.'
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