Rio Ferdinand questions Jose Mourinho comments blaming Spurs players for form

Rio Ferdinand has questioned comments made by Jose Mourinho which appeared to put the blame on his Tottenham Hotspur players for the team's Premier League form.

Spurs let a 2-1 lead slip five minutes from time on Sunday, allowing Joe Willock to equalise and earn a point for struggling Newcastle United at St James' Park.

When questioned over why his tactics were no longer working effectively following the game, Mourinho responded "same coach, different players", leaving the footballing world to interpret what he meant by this.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that such comments will lead to problems in the dressing room between the Spurs players and manager.

"Part of me understands Jose Mourinho. He has an ego, like all of us. He has pride and when you attack him he comes out fighting. I respect that a lot, I've got to say," he told his FIVE Youtube channel.

"But in these situations, sometimes he thinks about himself before anything else. He maybe doesn't think in that moment about the impact that can have on the changing room.

"If I'm a player in that changing room, that is definitely casting doubt over me as an individual and us as a team. What that does to a changing room, man, it doesn't galvanise them or bring them on side.

"It creates a rift, especially when you're not getting results. If you're winning and top of the league, you can say and get away with these type of things, but not when you're looking for confidence and searching for consistency.

"He's not bringing the players on side with those comments, man. That's why I fear for Mourinho and his squad, because those comments don't bring people alongside him."

Spurs currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points off West Ham United in fourth with eight league games to play.