Mourinho asked to explain comments

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been asked by the Football Association to provide his observations on comments he made ahead of last weekend’s derby against Manchester City.

Mourinho has until 6pm on December 18 to respond to the request, relating to comments made last Friday, two days before the match, which City won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

An FA statement did not specify which particular remarks were of interest, although Mourinho said in a press conference that it only takes a “little bit of wind” to knock over City’s players.

The Portuguese also accused City of committing “tactical fouls” to shut down counterattacks from opposing teams.

In his pre-match press conference, Mourinho said: ‘’They are a good team. ‘They defend well, they react well to the moment they lose the ball.

‘’They have a good dynamic in attack, they have creative movement. They have amazing players, they have a fantastic coach, they have lots of good things.

‘’If you ask me one thing that I don’t like a lot it’s that they lose their balance very easily.

‘’You know, a little bit of wind and they fall.’’

Mourinho, speaking to a number of national newspapers, then added that City are guilty of tactical fouls.

‘’It is a strategy (City) have,’’ he said. ‘’They attack with a lot of players. When they lose the ball, they are many times unbalanced in numbers, they have lots of people surrounding the ball area and have a very strong - and this is a great quality - transition in the next few seconds after they lose the ball, and many times they need what is called a tactical foul.

‘’Then it is up to the referee to analyse and make a decision about it, but I cannot speak about that.’’

Both City and United have already been asked to provide observations on a post-match fracas in the tunnel at Old Trafford.