Has Jose Mourinho forgotten the virtues of Sir Bobby Robson?

Sir Bobby Robson was the mentor, the footballing father figure that guided a desperately keen Jose Mourinho through his formative years. From his coaching philosophy to the importance of high moral standards, there is no doubt that a number of these elements have now been forgotten by Mourinho over the passage of time.

Not one to accept defeat without diverting attention away from his team and tactics, Mourinho has shadowed Manchester City's victory at Old Trafford with tales of excessive celebrations and flying milk. It may sound more like crying over spilt milk, but once again, Mourinho has managed to distract from his latest footballing failure.

As a side note, Mourinho actually got things largely right against Manchester City on Sunday. Although Manchester United's approach was far from pretty, waiting for their rivals to make a mistake almost proved effective, and while he will receive criticism in comparison to the footballing philosophy of professional nemesis Pep Guardiola, there wasn't a lot more he could do.

Playing an expansive style of open and attacking football would have played perfectly into Guardiola's hands, and it was inevitable that Mourinho would choose to destroy rather than create. Losing to this formidable Manchester City side is no disgrace, but the scoreline remained credible, and Manchester United played to a system that would ensure they at least remained in contention.

Sir Bobby Robson was Jose Mourinho's first professional footballing mentor

But as so often happens when Mourinho doesn't get his own way, the attention quickly turned away from events on the field to controversial events off it. As their opponents celebrated, Mourinho and his staff were the targets of a stray milk bottle, and the manner of the 2-1 defeat became a mere sideline in the overall media coverage of what could prove to be the defining match of the Premier League season.

Claims that Manchester City's excessive celebrations riled Mourinho offers a timely reminder of Sir Bobby Robson and how he viewed such scenes. Sir Bobby had an unwavering passion for the beauty of football, and once spoke about how the pain of defeat was often eased by watching the joy of his victorious opponents, taking personal satisfaction that his failings had at least brought happiness to others.

It is not the first time that Mourinho has challenged the celebrations of his rivals, and he turned on Chelsea manager Antonio Conte last season as he made a painful return to Stamford Bridge. This, of course, is the same Mourinho that famously sprinted down the Old Trafford touchline while manager of Porto, and goaded Liverpool fans at Anfield during his second spell at Chelsea.

Thousands of column inches have been devoted to Mourinho's rivalry with Guardiola, and how the contrasting philosophies and beliefs of both men make the fixtures between the two so intriguing. It is the perfect rivalry that has almost stretched to good against evil as Mourinho looks to the effectiveness of caution and negative play. His behaviour suggesting that it was not just City fans who were celebrating on Sunday.

The rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola remains respectful

Sadly, Sir Bobby Robson was taken from us in 2009, but it would be interesting to know his views on what his former student has become. His trusted translator and footballing aide, Mourinho had an enormous respect for his mentor and his approach to football in general. However, Sir Bobby was first a gentleman and a man that offered impeccable respect to others.

The same cannot be said for Mourinho, and as his managerial career ebbs and flows between success and failure, his frustrations become more apparent. He is calculated and skilled in manipulating the media for his own gain, and he is the one man that no rival would ever choose to take on in a public war of words. Sadly, it is in fact now hard to find any personal similarities between Mourinho and Sir Bobby.

It is impossible to imagine Mourinho finding solace in the celebrations of Manchester City on Sunday, but that is what separates him from his first mentor. Sir Bobby found enjoyment in every element of the sport, and while he would be unlikely to engage in the media spotlight of the modern game, he would know the boundaries of professional and personal respect.

Mourinho has evolved into a manager that embraces the siege mentality that has defined so many of his teams over the course of his career. This is the same Mourinho that once poked the late Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova in the eye during a famous El Clasico fracas. Subtlety has never been a strong point for Mourinho when he comes out fighting.

Of course, there was a similar passion to Sir Bobby in his approach, such was his desire to succeed, but it was a passion that was channelled in the appropriate way. Mourinho and Guardiola exchanged a respectful acknowledgement to each other at the final whistle, but the rivalry quickly extended into the post-match media circus, where Mourinho is the boss.

It would be interesting to know how Sir Bobby Robson would view the modern day Jose Mourinho

Manchester City will win the Premier League comfortably this season, and they will be deserved champions, possibly the most deserving champions in the modern era. Mourinho and Manchester United have acted only as the antidote to Guardiola's continuing search for perfection, and the gap between the two at the present time means that it is a situation that cannot change.

Manchester United must build for a brighter future built upon the attacking virtues of the past. However, that will not be possible under the stewardship of Mourinho, and it is the actions of Mourinho, the manager, that would disappoint Sir Bobby if he was around today, almost as much as the actions of Mourinho the man.