Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min clash 'beautiful', insists Jose Mourinho after Tottenham beat Everton

Michael Keane's own goal settled the game but the big talking point was the bust-up between two Spurs players

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (L) and striker Son Heung-Min arrive for the second half minutes after their clash during the match against Everton. AFP

Hugo Lloris celebrates with Son Heung-min after the match. Reuters

Hugo Lloris celebrates with Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura after the match. Reuters

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho and Son Heung-Min after the match. EPA

Everton's Moise Kean and Tottenham Hotspur's Steven Bergwijn battle for the ball. PA

Everton's Bernard takes a free kick. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela in action with Everton's Lucas Digne (left) and Andre Gomes. PA

General view inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the game between Tottenham and Everton. Getty Images

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho hugs Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti after the match. EPA

Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko, left, duels for the ball with Everton's Bernard. AP

Tottenham's Son Heung-min takes a shot at goal. AP

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho talks to his players during a drinks break. EPA

Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, is tackled by Tottenham's Ben Davies. AP

Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso celebrates with teammate Harry Kane after forcing the own goal. EPA

Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso celebrates with teammates after Everton's Michael Keane scored an own goal. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min in action with Everton's Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho described the on-field confrontation between goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and forward Son Heung-min as "beautiful" after his side clinched a 1-0 Premier League win over Everton on Monday night.

With only one win in nine matches in all competitions ahead of the game and their desire questioned by Mourinho after last week's 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United, emotions were raw.

They were leading thanks to Michael Keane's own goal but Lloris saw red as the players walked off the pitch, ranting at Son for not tracking back when Richarlison had a chance on the stroke of halftime. They had to be separated by their teammates, although it was all smiles later.

Mourinho, who became only the fifth manager to accumulate 200 Premier League wins and the second-quickest in terms of games behind only Alex Ferguson, said he had encouraged his players to be more critical with each other.

"It's beautiful," Mourinho, whose side moved up to eighth in the table, nine points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, said.

"It's probably as a consequence of our meetings. If you want to blame someone for that it's me. I was critical of my boys - they were not critical enough with themselves.

"I asked them to be more demanding of each other. Son is an amazing kid, everybody likes Son but the captain told him you have to do more and give more to the team."

Expanding on the mentality he expects from his players, Mourinho, a three-time Premier League winner during two spells with Chelsea, said he encouraged a frank exchange of views between players, if not in full view of the TV cameras.

"A team of good boys and nice boys the only thing they want to win at the end of the season is the fair play cup and I've never been interested in winning that," he said.

"I don't like a team that doesn't have a critical sense. What happened at halftime shouldn't have happened there, it should have happened just inside the dressing room.

"But I can promise you my winning teams had big fights."