Martin Keown sends message to Jose Mourinho ahead of Man United v Tottenham

The Arsenal legend wants Jose Mourinho to allow his Man United players to play an attacking brand of football against Tottenham

Martin Keown has urged Jose Mourinho to allow his Manchester United side to play expansive football when Tottenham Hotspur make the long trip to Old Trafford this weekend.

The Red Devils will welcome their top-four rivals to the Theatre of Dreams in search of three points following a two-game winless run for Manchester United.

Mourinho adopted a conservative approach to their Premier League clash against Liverpool despite scoring 21 goals in seven games ahead of the north-west derby.

Manchester United battled to a goalless draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side but the Red Devils appeared to suffer a hangover from the Anfield clash when they lost 2-1 to promoted side Huddersfield Town last weekend.

Tottenham, on the other hand, successfully exploited the Liverpool defence in a resounding 4-1 victory over the Merseyside outfit to lay down a big marker in the title race.

Former Arsenal defender Keown is hopeful Mourinho will give his Manchester United team more freedom to play with an attacking brand of football this weekend.

“I just hope that Jose Mourinho lets his team play!” Keown told the Daily Mail.

“He pulled up the handbrake at Anfield and United seemed unable to get back into gear at Huddersfield.

“In any other country you feel Jose would be top of the league right now but with Manchester City you cannot rest on your laurels.

Both Mourinho and Pochettino are striving for perfection and to compete with Guardiola that’s what you need.”

Manchester United are in second place in the Premier League table but level on points with Tottenham.

The two Premier League clubs are five points adrift of leaders Manchester City after nine games.

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