Tottenham’s acting head coach, Ryan Mason, has expressed his belief that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of Spurs’ chosen style of play is unnecessary. Klopp took issue with Mason’s post-match comments about Diogo Jota, who was involved in a head-high tackle on Oliver Skipp during their match at Anfield, but went on to score a stoppage-time winner, helping Liverpool win 4-3.
After Mason expressed his exasperation at Jota’s escape from a red card, Klopp responded in an interview with the BBC by telling Spurs they “can’t just counter-attack” and urging them to “play better football,” adding that Mason should “worry about other stuff.”
Mason responded to Klopp’s comments ahead of Tottenham’s match against Crystal Palace, stating that while he admires Klopp and respects Liverpool Football Club, he does not believe he will ever be in a position where he can criticise another football club’s tactics.
Mason, who retired from playing professional football in 2018 due to a skull fracture following a clash of heads, also expressed his belief that he will never be in a position to criticise another club for how they want to try and win the game.
Klopp’s criticism of Tottenham’s style of play is not new, and his comments have often been seen as an attempt to put pressure on the opposition. However, Mason’s response shows that he is not willing to engage in a war of words, and instead, he is focused on doing what is best for his team.
While Klopp’s comments may have been intended to unsettle Tottenham, they could also have the opposite effect. Tottenham may feel that they have something to prove and may use Klopp’s comments as motivation to play even better in their upcoming matches.
In the end, Mason’s response shows that he is a coach who is focused on his team and is not willing to be distracted by external factors. While criticism is part of football, Mason’s measured response shows that he is someone who can rise above it and focus on what is most important: helping his team win.