Manchester United vs Spurs: Talk is cheap for Jose Mourinho in make-or-break clash with Mauricio Pochettino

The United manager needs to stop talking about winning titles and show why he won them, whereas Pochettino needs to prove he is capable of joining the trophy challengers

As talk began to turn to the next game, and a very big one at that, Jose Mourinho quickly turned back to something that has been a big topic over the last few weeks. The Manchester United boss once more mentioned his glittering past.

“I still live with the emotions of last Sunday,” Mourinho said after the 2-0 over Bournemouth, but referencing the 1-0 defeat by West Brom, and maybe a whole lot more. “I know how to win titles. I won eight championships in four different countries and three in this country. I know why you win and why you don't win.”

The difference this time was that it didn’t come after a defeat, so it wasn’t like he was being defensive or deflecting… and there was also the hint of a smile, and a bit of the old Mourinho cheekiness.

Since it had actually come after a victory, was the Portuguese actually on the offensive? Was he specifically reminding his opposing manager on Sunday of how much he’d won, since there is now so much pressure on Mauricio Pochettino to even take the first step on the road to such a record. Some around United were wondering that on Wednesday, and it’s not like Mourinho doesn’t plan his words carefully. After coming out of that press conference, the Portuguese actually stopped to watch it on a screen, clearly scrutinising the answer he gave to one question.

Mourinho and Pochettino are good friends - as indicated by the Argentine’s effusive praise of his counterpart before the game - so such a tactic would seem a bit over the top, but then that in itself would reflect the high stakes of the game. Those stakes and the similar standards are also going to make this all the more difficult to win, potentially necessitating such tactics, or any potential edge.

It’s nothing personal, just business. And in this case quite big business, as it is a properly big game.

It’s also a meeting of the old power, and bright new potential. This is an element that really escalates the stakes.

Because although United are currently ahead of Spurs in the league and Mourinho is the manager who has actually won all those trophies, there has for a while been a - possibly misguided - sense that the Manchester club are plateauing. At the same time, Tottenham Hotspur only seem to keep growing, constantly raising the promising prospect that they might overtake United and win many more trophies in the future.

It’s just that this team could do with winning that maiden trophy first.

On the eve of the game, however, Pochettino returned to an old theme of his own.

“I don’t believe the FA Cup is going to change our lives,” the Spurs boss said. So much for the big game, even if this is a manager with bigger ambitions.

Mourinho and Pochettino have spoken glowingly of each other to the media (Getty)

For his part, some of this was undoubtedly pressure-management, maybe also some mind-management given there is still a Champions League place to be secured, but it’s difficult not to think there is also some danger with this in itself. There is the possibility that Pochettino’s downplaying of the FA Cup could become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it also goes against the potential wish fulfilment of the Spurs supporters given how thirsty they are for a first trophy in a decade.

The Argentine has been so adept at lifting the hopes of the Tottenham crowd, even more than just getting in tune with them, but it does feel as if this is one subject where he has been a bit out of synch.

There’s also the fact the FA Cup would genuinely change the perception of the season and where they’re going next, and that goes for both clubs.

Given how promising both of their campaigns seemed at different points, it would be a bit underwhelming to just end the season with mere Champions League qualification. That alone might show how far Spurs have come, but it would be undeniably flat given it would also represent the first time there hasn’t really been tangible and statistical improvement in one of their seasons under Pochettino. They might for example drop from second last year to fourth this, and with fewer points, even if that doesn’t tell the full story.

Paul Pogba appears to be back in favour with Mourinho (Getty)

An FA Cup, however, would offer such an emotional and psychological boost as well as an actual trophy they can pick up.

All of this applies to United, too, and they are suddenly in danger of an underwhelming season.

As to how any of this will apply to what actually happens on the pitch, there are similar dynamics at play with their performance.

United are above Spurs in the table, but yet there has been a more inconsistent stop-start nature to their displays. As the last two weeks have encapsulated, they all too swiftly swing from the promising to the stultifying.

That has not been the case with Spurs, who have again shown steady improvement over the course of the campaign so that their best form was once more in its second half. It similarly feels like they are maximising everything they’ve got in a fully-formed best XI, whereas United are more erratic in that regard, as reflected by the many questions over their starting line-up.

The question about Alexis Sanchez is perhaps the most compelling of all. He was the centre of attention at this exact point last season, given that his old team Arsenal were facing Manchester City, who were expected to be his next team.

Alexis Sanchez is under most scrutiny for his recent performances (Getty)

Sanchez could be the centre of attention again on Saturday, but in a different way, and especially since Paul Pogba looks to have played his way back into preference. There is the possibility that Sanchez has played his way out of it, and a very real question over whether - on current individual form - United are a better-functioning side without the Chilean. There is a lot to ponder for Mourinho here.

The caveat to all of that is that it illustrates how United have so many more options than Spurs, and probably a higher ceiling as a side right now. Mourinho also made a point of mentioning his fine record against the rest of the top six this season, and he has repeatedly shown that lasting capability for a performance of lasting legacy regardless of their form. That could especially be seen with the recent wins over Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.

He knows how to get a big-game response from those players, something that may be all the more relevant if Pochettino is - in public at least - playing that game down.

It does similarly feel as if it will be United who will have to try and pound down that Spurs midfield, with one of their midfielders - most likely Ander Herrera - charged with stifling Christian Eriksen.

The success of that could well be what decides the game… and maybe success going forward.

Mourinho needs to show how he won so many trophies rather than talk about it. Pochettino needs to just show he can win trophies.

It might well give one of them something to show for this season.