Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho hit back at criticism and pulled comparisons with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard’s treatment of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
When the club’s record signings often spend their time on the sidelines, people will understandably question the managers’ team selections.
It is what happens to Mourinho who has often been quizzed on Tanguy Ndombele’s lack of starts since his arrival in July.
However, Mourinho has defended his team selections, claiming the media treats him differently compared to other managers, including Lampard.
The Portuguese manager told Sky Sports: “Look, that is a question you normally do to me but you do not do to Frank Lampard, to Jurgen Klopp, to Pep [Guardiola], to all the coaches of the big clubs with big players.
“Frank Lampard plays [Christian] Pulisic, you don’t ask him why he doesn’t start [Callum] Hudson-Odoi or something.
“When Pep Guardiola plays someone and Bernardo Silva is on the bench, you never ask about Bernardo Silva.
“It looks like I am the only guy that has to play 15 players from the start, or I am the only guy who doesn’t have the right to have good players on the bench.”
Although it seems like Mourinho is deflecting the questions, the former Chelsea manager might have a good point about Hudson-Odoi situation.
The 19-year-old has had just 12 starts in all competitions this season, with seven of them in the Premier League.
Even if you put Hudson-Odoi’s multiple injury spells this season aside, the England international has only played a total of 38 minutes of football (Whoscored) since the Premier League restart.
Last season, Maurizio Sarri was often criticised for his treatment of Hudson-Odoi, and Hudson-Odoi has not seen much of an improvement in terms of playing time under Lampard.
In his defence, Lampard has given more senior debuts to academy graduates than any previous Chelsea managers.
It just seems odd that the highly-rated teenager couldn’t get more minutes ahead of Pedro Rodriguez and Willian who might not even be Chelsea players next season.
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