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Man Utd news: How Jose Mourinho is copying Sir Alex Ferguson this season - Phil Neville
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho is copying one of Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics, claims Phil Neville.
Jose Mourinho: I am one of the greatest managers in the world
It's been a tough week for the Portuguese coach after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham on Monday evening.
The United boss applauded the fans after the Spurs clash, making a point of standing in front of the Stretford End after full-time.
Mourinho then made the headlines by walking out of his press conference after demanding 'respect' for his previous three Premier League titles.
And Neville thinks the former Chelsea coach is taking the spotlight off his players, just as Ferguson used to do at Old Trafford.
There were times when Sir Alex Ferguson took the pressure off us as players
"He'll not be happy with what he has seen in the first three games but he is the right man for the job because of his proven track record," he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"There were times when Sir Alex Ferguson took the pressure off us as players.
"All the focus is on Jose because he is taking the battering at the moment.
"That is a sign of a courageous manager that doesn't throw his players under a bus and is protecting them.
"There are players in that Manchester United dressing room that probably know that they can be playing better but he is not criticising them publicly at the moment.
"He is actually taking the hits for them.
"As a young manager, that's something that I am looking at and thinking 'that's something that I would like to do for my players'."
Mourinho was again backing himself in Friday's press conference, even quoting famous philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
Jose Mourinho delivers hilarious jibe at Spurs fans
"I am the manager of the one of the greatest clubs in the world but I'm also one of the greatest managers in the world," he said.
"Did you never spend time reading the philosopher Hegel?
"The truth is in the whole. It's always in the whole that you find the truth."
United will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they take on Burnley on Sunday afternoon.