Tottenham opinion: Why Mourinho fairs so poorly against Klopp

Tottenham gaffer Jose Mourinho has won just two of 13 matches against Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, his worst head-to-head record.

Since joining Spurs, Mourinho has lost all three matches to Klopp’s Liverpool. Gone are the days when Jose has his way with the Reds. So why does the German have Jose in his pocket, almost guaranteeing victory every time the two chess masters meet?

As a Tottenham supporter, it aggrieves me to admit, but Jurgen always gets the most from his players. He, unlike Jose, is an eternal optimist, a galvanizing force that buoys collective confidence and facilitates joy.

Often sullen, negative and gloomy, Jose’s philosophy is in rather sharp contrast to Klopp’s. Both are master tacticians, two of the greatest managers of all time. But the way in which Jose organizes his teams, particularly against juggernaut foes in recent years, is the reason he struggles so mightily against Jurgen.

Usually Jose’s robust defensive game plan serves him well. Not against Jurgen’s Reds though. The charismatic German asks his side to play with a bravado, pushing almost cavalierly his players to the brink of failure. It’s a risk-forward philosophy that Mourinho, in his golden early years, used to espouse.

While he has always preferred to win tight, defensive battles, The Special One used to take pride in seeing his teams play with an undeniable swagger, a confidence only the most courageous teams could embody.

Thursday’s tentative, risk-averse display once again proved that Jose has lost the bravado and courage he once possessed in abundance.

Jose rarely loses a head-to-head matchup, but this one is quickly getting away from him, not unlike his waning sense of conviction and self-belief.