Jose Mourinho strongly defended his record of getting the best from top strikers on Monday after criticism the Portuguese manager's style could see Harry Kane look for pastures new.
Kane played his first game for six months in Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Friday, but failed to get a single touch in the opposition box.
Mourinho's tactics were again in the spotlight as Spurs tried to hold onto a 1-0 lead for most of the second half before Bruno Fernandes's penalty secured a point for United.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said he "worried" for Kane under Mourinho and a lack of trophies could also force the England captain to move on.
Mourinho addressed Merson personally during a video-conference ahead of Tuesday's clash with West Ham United and reeled off a list of statistics detailing the scoring rates of Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Diego Milito and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his time in charge of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Kane scored seven goals in 10 games following Mourinho's appointment before tearing his hamstring on New Year's Day.
"I feel a bit strange at some analysis and some comments, especially as it looks for me at the beginning of some comments and analysis have started from Paul [Merson]," Mourinho said.
"I have to say I respect a lot people like him and because I respect him a lot, I want to be nice in my answer. I don't think he's ready for a bad answer so I try to be nice and say something that people can think a little bit.
"First of all Harry played his first game for six months. The record of goals that Harry has for me is easy for me. Go to your data and it's easy to see how many matches he played with me and how many goals he scored before his injury.
"I had a few strikers that played for me and they're not bad. I have a guy called Drogba, he played for me for four seasons. He scored 186 goals which gives an average of 46 goals per season [Drogba scored 73 goals in 186 games for Chelsea].
"I had another guy who is also not bad, plays for Juventus now [Ronaldo]. He played for me for three seasons, he scored 186 goals, which gives an average of 56 goals per season.
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Player ratings for Spurs 1 Manchester United 1
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Hugo Lloris - 7: Made a superb save to deny Anthony Martial in the second half and neat distribution. Reuters -
Serge Aurier - 4: The Ivorian has been a liability at right-back all season and three months off has hardly sharpened his senses. AP -
Davinson Sanchez - 6: One wayward first-half header aside, the Colombian made some vital interceptions to deny United in threatening positions. AP -
Eric Dier - 7: Seasoned Spurs fans will tell you this was Dier's best game for more than two years. "Absolutely perfect," purred his manager. Can feel aggrieved to have conceded what looked a soft penalty for a tussle with Paul Pogba. Reuters -
Ben Davies - 7: Steady and dependable at the back and tried to link up with his attackers. AP -
Harry Winks - 6: Industrious and hard-working in the face of a more dominant United midfield three. AFP -
Moussa Sissoko - 8: Much has been made of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min's comebacks bolstering Spurs but the Frenchman's return from injury is arguably even more important. A monster in defence and denied Marcus Rashford a late break away with a vital interception. AFP -
Erik Lamela - 5: The Argentine has the tackling technique of Paul Scholes but sadly not the vision. Reuters -
Steven Bergwijn - 7: The Dutchman's work rate only dipped after picking up a knock midway through the second half. Turned Harry Maguire inside out for his goal. AP -
Son Heung-min - 7: The South Korean's pace means he is always a threat, but he really should have put Spurs two up with a header shortly after Bergwijn's opener. Getty -
Harry Kane - 5: Looked woefully off the pace. The one positive is he lasted the full 90 plus minutes. EPA -
Gedson Fernandes (sub for Lamela, 70) - 5: Doesn't look to possess the skill set to flourish as a winger. Spurs still waiting to see a spark from the young Portuguese. Reuters -
Giovani Lo Celso (sub for Bergwijn, 70) - 7: His introduction gave Spurs a foothold in the game when United threatened to overwhelm them after the equaliser. AFP -
David de Gea - 6: Badly at fault for Bergwijn's goal; made up for it with a superb save from Son. AP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6: Delivery was lacking but the young Englishman was as tenacious in the tackle as ever. Getty -
Victor Lindelof - 6: Good distribution and along with his defensive partner Maguire ensured Kane had a quiet game. AFP -
Harry Maguire - 6: A galvanising presence but looked about as mobile as Nelson's Column as Bergwijn raced inside and then ahead of him to fire Spurs in front. AFP -
Luke Shaw - 6: His pace helps him recover but the left-back too often switches off in defensive situations. AFP -
Fred - 7: Was unhappy to be hauled off in the second half and had a commanding game in midfield. Reuters -
Scott McTominay - 7: Chosen ahead of Paul Pogba and more than justified it. Never flustered and one of those players that always plays with his head up. AFP -
Bruno Fernandes - 8: The last player to win the Premier League player of the month award was a delight to watch. Always probing and came agonisingly close with a second-half fizzer. AFP -
Daniel James - 6: The Welshman's pace will always give opposition defences cause for concern but didn't do enough on the ball. AFP -
Marcus Rashford - 6: The darling of English football should have buried a first-half header from six yards but completely missed the ball. EPA -
Anthony Martial - 5: The Frenchman was largely anonymous and no surprise to see him replaced in the second half. EPA -
Nemanja Matic (sub for Lindelof, 78) - 6: Played as part of a back three as United looked to press home their superior possession and territory. AP -
Paul Pobga (sub for Fred, 63) - 7: The Frenchman was finally paired with Fernandes in a United midfield and the early signs look promising for a successful partnership. Won the penalty for United's equaliser. AP -
Mason Greenwood (sub for James, 62) - 6: Did more in 30 minutes than Martial managed in 70. Getty -
Eric Bailly (sub for McTominay, 89) - 5: Brought on to bolster United's defence as Spurs had the better of the latter exchanges. Reuters -
Odion Ighalo (sub for Martial, 78) - 5: Nigerian failed to make an impact. Reuters
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"I had another guy who is also not bad, called Karim Benzema. He played for me for three seasons, he was not always starting because he was quite young at the time, he scored 78 goals in three seasons, which gives a 26-goal average per season.
"I had another called Milito, he played one season, he scored 30 goals, won three titles.
"I had another guy, he played for one-and-a-half seasons, in the other half he had a big injury. A tall guy called Zlatan. He scored 58 goals, which gives a 29 average per season.
"So dear Paul, I have lots of respect for you. I think Harry Kane has no problem at all to score goals in my teams, especially when he's fit and fresh and has routines of playing."
Mourinho was also criticised for leaving a visibly tiring Kane on the field for the full 90 minutes last week.
Spurs wilted in the final quarter as Mourinho made just two of five allotted substitution compared with United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who used his full complement.
Mourinho bemoaned his lack of options from the bench, with Dele Alli suspended and Lucas Moura injured.
Alli and Lucas will be available for selection against West Ham and Mourinho is looking forward to having six attacking players to choose from for the first time as Tottenham boss.
"[Steven] Bergwijn and [Erik] Lamela, Lucas and Son [Heung-min], Dele and Harry, six attacking players, all different, all very good and it is the first time I have all of them available, which is the kind of problem which we coaches love."
Spurs, meanwhile, have extended the contracts of Jan Vertonghen and Michel Vorm until the end of the season.
Both men were due to leave the club on June 30 but will now stay for the remaining eight games.
