Jose Mourinho insists Liverpool's midfielders rarely got close to their attackers in a Champions League final he deemed "not good" in terms of entertainment.
Mourinho, speaking alongside Arsene Wenger on beIN Sports, insisted that if this had not been a Champions League final, the match would have been labelled "not good," adding that Liverpool's unusually pragmatic approach saw them through.
"You don't remember Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Milner being close to the three attacking players, to have one arrive in the box, nothing. They stayed in a block of seven, they were very pragmatic, very solid defensively.
"I think also that if this match is not the Champions League final, if it is a Premier League match, or the final of the League Cup, we would all say the game was not good.
"Because it is a Champions League final, it has this emotional side of it, but I think the quality of the game was not good, and Tottenham have to be frustrated, because they lost and they feel that they are better than this. These big moments are when you have to be at your best level."
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Liverpool put in an "average" display, and suggested Spurs' psychological approach may have held them back.
Wenger said: "At the end of the day the game was decided by two set pieces.
"I personally believe it was a very, very average Liverpool, and that there was more in this game for Tottenham. They lacked a bit of killer instinct, and I felt it was more linked with the psychological side than the real quality.
"I felt like they believed but without really 100 per cent believing, Tottenham tonight."
Sorojena
102
Very surprizing to hear Jose saying this because thay's how he plays his football
Yuybkmnpy
93
Now haters have moved from looserpool to a boring final we are not Michael Jackson to entertain anyone we want the trophy not quality and entertainment
Abatism
67
The game was tactically boring but logically won by Liverpool. Good football lost the cup, tactical team won. Tottenham should learn what Liverpool learnt from Real Madrid last year. Congratulations, Liverpool! Great honour for Jurgen Klopp.
Costas_Costa
57
Pochettino should have started Moora if he wanted Mo(o)re from the game!
Nueaeklmst
51
Who cares what two unemployed men think. Well done Liverpool 🏆
penja
49
it wasn't about the performance,,, it was about how to finish the game... and that's the end of the story
SportingLisbon44
48
Mou is 100% right. It wasn’t a beautiful game in terms of being super interesting, and yes there were mistakes on both sides, which fans didn’t like. But, nevertheless, Liverpool played smarter, and Spurs were toothless for the majority of the game.
Kendeknot
47
Liverpool played their best game against Barcelona and what is left is trophy to show for their hard work so enemy shut up
Deaakpr
36
its a tactic to make our opponent struggle Ajax lacks maturity Liverpool plays with interlligent