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Tag: Mourinho

  • Liverpool beats Mourinho’s Spurs, Record First Win In Six League Games

    Liverpool beats Mourinho’s Spurs, Record First Win In Six League Games

    Liverpool ended a five-game winless run in the Premier League to move back into the top four with a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Thursday as Spurs also lost Harry Kane to an ankle injury.

    The English champions had not even scored in their last four league games, but their front three sparked back into life as Roberto Firmino ended a 492-minute goalless drought in first-half stoppage time.

    Kane had soldiered on after twice receiving treatment on ankle knocks in the first-half and was eventually replaced at the break.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled Liverpool’s lead before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg immediately pulled a goal back for Spurs early in the second-half.

    But Sadio Mane secured a badly-needed win for Jurgen Klopp’s men 25 minutes from time.

    Liverpool’s worst run in the league since 2017 had seen them slip from the top of the table to fifth before kick-off with Klopp admitting his first priority is now to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

    That is also Spurs’ target in Jose Mourinho’s first full season in charge, but Tottenham’s chances may now depend on how long Kane is sidelined for.

    Mane missed a glorious chance to give the visitors’ the lead inside three minutes as his sliced finish summed up the lack of confidence that had troubled Liverpool’s normally prolific front three of the Senegalese, Firmino and Mohamed Salah in recent weeks.

    Kane and Son Heung-min by contrast have been the most deadly duo in the Premier League this season and thought they had combined for the opening goal moments later.

    Son finished coolly from Kane’s through ball, but the South Korean had just strayed offside in the build-up and the goal was ruled out by a VAR review.

    There were signs of life in Liverpool’s attacking play despite a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday and they created many more clear-cut chances than in recent weeks as Hugo Lloris twice denied Mane with excellent saves.

    With Kane clearly hobbling, Tottenham were clinging on for half-time when Liverpool finally struck.

    Mane got in behind and squared for Firmino to bundle in at the back post for his first goal in eight games.

    Alexander-Arnold’s drop off in form has been another major part of Liverpool’s regression from the side that romped to the title last season with 99 points.

    However, the England right-back connected sweetly to drill in his side’s second after Lloris could only parry Mane’s initial effort into his path.

    Hojbjerg’s brilliant strike from outside the box halved the deficit just two minutes later.

    Liverpool, though, rarely looked troubled after Kane departed and could have won far more convincingly.

    Salah’s powerful strike was ruled out after a VAR review for a handball by Firmino earlier in the move.

    But Mane restored the two-goal cushion when he pounced on an error from Joe Rodon to fire high past Lloris.

    Victory takes Liverpool back above West Ham, who they face on Sunday, into fourth.

    Tottenham’s early season form saw them being touted as contenders for a first top-flight title in 60 years ahead of their last clash with Liverpool last month.

    Now a run of just two wins in eight games has plummeted Mourinho’s men down to sixth, four points adrift of the top four.

    AFP

  • ‘Bale is ill but does not have COVID-19’ – Mourinho

    ‘Bale is ill but does not have COVID-19’ – Mourinho

    Gareth Bale missed out on Tottenham’s trip to Crystal Palace on account of illness, but manager Jose Mourinho confirmed the Welshman does not have coronavirus.

    Bale played an hour of Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Antwerp in the Europa League on Thursday evening, a week on from scoring in the draw at LASK Linz, but did not feature in the squad for the trip to Selhurst Park on Sunday.

    The Wales superstar has a history of injury problems, and has been managed carefully by Mourinho following his arrival on loan from Real Madrid, so there would have been concerns when he did not feature in the travelling party.

    However, Mourinho has allayed any injury fears and also confirmed the illness is not coronavirus – after Bale produced a negative test.

    “He doesn’t feel very well,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “Of course, I want to say it’s not coronavirus. He tested, no chance.

    “But kind of a flu, this kind of little feeling. He’s not feeling so well.”

    Bale has been urged to show more intent and aggression by a Tottenham legend if he is to become a regular starter for the club.

    Appearing on BT Sport, Glenn Hoddle said:  “I’d like him to show a bit more intent and aggression in his mind and prove to Jose ‘I need to be in the first team in the Premier League’.

    “I don’t see that at the moment.

    “If that player is still in there anywhere what he was like two, three or four years ago, then Tottenham go into another gear.”

    With a busy period looming on the horizon, Mourinho will hope Bale can shrug off his illness and return to the squad in the coming days.

    Following the Premier League game with the Eagles, Spurs face Liverpool, Leicester, Stoke City (in the Carabao Cup), Wolves and Fulham before the turn of the year.

    Spurs are setting the pace in the Premier League and, with qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League already secured, are battling on four fronts.

    Having as many players as possible fit and healthy could be key to whether Mourinho can keep Spurs in contention for silverware.

  • Keown admits Spurs’ ‘team of Mourinhos’ deserved derby spoils

    Keown admits Spurs’ ‘team of Mourinhos’ deserved derby spoils

    The sight of Thomas Partey walking off the pitch as Tottenham surged forward to double their lead in the north London derby is another example of Arsenal’s “footballing brain not functioning” in 2020-21, says Martin Keown.

    The Gunners made the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday looking for a spark to ignite what has already become a faltering campaign.

    Mikel Arteta’s side bossed possession at the home of their arch-rivals, but were unable to turn ball retention into anything more tangible.

    Jose Mourinho put in another masterclass, with the Spurs boss seeing his side earn a 2-0 victory that has cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table.

    Keown concedes that Tottenham look to be the real deal, certainly in north London, with Arsenal slipping alarmingly off the pace.

    The former defender says the Gunners, who have made their worst start in 39 years, are continuing to shoot themselves in the foot with Partey’s questionable decision to head for the sidelines after picking up a knock considered to be another example of Arteta’s side switching off.

    Keown told the Daily Mail: “It was a world-class opener by Son Heung-min but nobody in an Arsenal shirt tested him. With the time he had, he could have got a protractor out to measure the angles of the shot.

    “Then Tottenham’s second goal was a copy of the first: Arsenal lost possession high up the pitch and were punished on the counter. Thomas Partey had walked off because he was injured, and this was an example of a team’s footballing brain not functioning.

    “Both of Arsenal’s full backs, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney, had flown forward as if they were still being used as wing backs. Suddenly, one ball out and it was four on two in favour of Tottenham.

    “Where was the communication? Arsenal over-committed in this game and encouraged the opposition to break.

    “Tottenham, meanwhile, were compact and picked their moments to pounce. Their two midfielders, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko, were never too far from their central defenders.

    “Arsenal had 70 per cent possession but Spurs knew what to do when they didn’t have the ball. They put up a shield. Even Harry Kane had more touches in his own box than the opposition one.

    “Tottenham’s players are working so hard and have bought into Jose Mourinho’s messages. They’re morphing from a group of nice guys into a team of Mourinhos.”

    While Spurs sit at the Premier League summit, out-of-sorts Arsenal find themselves languishing in 15th spot with just 13 points from 11 games.

  • Mourinho lauds Hojbjerg in Tottenham win over Arsenal

    Mourinho lauds Hojbjerg in Tottenham win over Arsenal

    Jose Mourinho labelled Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg a “phenomenal player” after Tottenham’s derby win over Arsenal on Sunday.

    Son Heung-min and Harry Kane combined twice as Spurs recorded a 2-0 win in the north London derby to remain top of the Premier League.

    Hojbjerg, an August arrival from Southampton for a reported £15 million plus add-ons , played a key role.

    READ ALSO: Arteta blames Arsenal’s struggles in attack for Tottenham defeat

    The midfielder had more touches (61), passes (44), successful passes (35), passes in the opposition half (15) and interceptions (three) than any other Spurs player.

    Hojbjerg’s performance earned praise from Spurs boss Mourinho, with the 25-year-old also having Tottenham’s only other shot on target.

    “Pierre is, first of all, very intelligent. He reads the game very well. He’s going to be a coach one day, for sure,” Mourinho told a news conference.

    “He’s a pain, asking questions about why we do this and why we do that. On the pitch, he reads the situation very, very well and the people that surround him are really compact, they read the game.

    “Physically he’s very, very strong and technically he’s much better than people think. Because sometimes people think the guy that is good technically is the guy that does the backheel. The guy that is good technically is the guy that does something wonderful. But these are not my words. These are words from coaches of 30, 40 years ago. Simplicity is genius.

    “And the guy is so simple in everything he does with the ball. And I think he’s a phenomenal player. Congratulations, Mr. [Daniel] Levy [Spurs chairman].”

    Of midfielders, only Manchester City’s Rodri has made more successful passes than Hojbjerg in the Premier League this season, with 746 against 706.

    Hojbjerg also ranks fourth for successful passes in the opposition half with 341 and while his five chances created are also below the likes of Rodri with 11, he has created two big chances to the Spaniard’s zero.

    He helped Spurs come through games against City, Chelsea and Arsenal with seven points, and with their title chances seemingly boosted.

    Tottenham have also kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League and Mourinho called for his side to continue their run of form.

    “We can lose everywhere. In the Premier League, we can lose everywhere. We can go to any place and lose. Any team can come here and beat us,” he said.

    “Of course, people could expect these last three matches. Now, three points, four points, or six with one loss. Now we did seven.

    “We didn’t concede one against phenomenal teams. Of course, we are in a good moment and the team is strong also, mentally, but you know, nothing changes.”

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  • I was under more pressure at Stamford Bridge – Mourinho

    I was under more pressure at Stamford Bridge – Mourinho

    Tottenham manager, Jose Mourinho, has claimed he was under more pressure during his time at Chelsea than current boss, Frank Lampard.

    Mourinho won three Premier League titles with the Blues over two separate stints, with Lampard one of his key players.

    Lampard has now returned to Stamford Bridge as manager, leading them to a fourth-place finish last season in his first campaign in charge.

    The pair come face-to-face on Sunday in a crucial Premier League showdown, with Tottenham going into the match top of the table and Chelsea in third position.

    Although Lampard has plenty of expectations after Chelsea spent heavily this summer, Mourinho has insisted that he should be facing more pressure.

    “When you are favourites, you know why you are favourites. And you have to accept that and deal with that kind of pressure and responsibility.

    “I was at clubs which were, let’s say, champions in the market because of their powerful investments. I had to deal with that pressure. So now it’s not for me to deal with that pressure. It’s for others to deal with that pressure. That’s not for us,” Mourinho said.

  • Mourinho winning the EPL title with Tottenham would alarm Man Utd fans – Neville

    Mourinho winning the EPL title with Tottenham would alarm Man Utd fans – Neville

    Tottenham winning the Premier League under Jose Mourinho would be the “most outstanding story” and something that would “alarm” Manchester United fans, according to Gary Neville.

    A congested 2020-21 season is expected to produce a much closer title race and the lead at the top of the table has changed hands several times already.

    Spurs briefly hit the summit on Sunday, for the first time in over six years, following a late 1-0 win at West Brom and they are unbeaten in the league since an opening-game defeat by Everton.

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    Mourinho won the Premier League three times when Chelsea manager and, while Neville does not believe Spurs will end up champions, he acknowledges the former United boss has the attacking power at his disposal to deliver a first league title for the north London club since 1961.

    “I said a couple weeks ago on Monday Night Football that Spurs couldn’t win the league, and I still don’t think they can,” the former United defender told The Gary Neville Podcast.

    “But I do agree with Jamie Carragher that it would be the most outstanding story to see Jose Mourinho win the Premier League with Tottenham.

    “It would be something that would alarm Chelsea fans, Manchester United fans and Arsenal fans. It would be one of the great stories, because Tottenham don’t win leagues!

    “He’s got the forward players to do it. You think of the strike force and the goal – it’s incredible.”

    Neville also praised Harry Kane, whose winner against West Brom was his 150th goal in the Premier League, which came a few days after hitting the 200 mark for Spurs.

    He added: “The only thing that can stop Harry Kane doing everything in the game, breaking every record, is injury.

    “Alan Shearer is definitely the best striker in PL history in terms of his goal record. He’s the best striker I’ve played with for England, in terms of a number nine, and Rooney I’d put up there with him.

    “And Harry Kane has so much similarity in his game, in terms of the mentality, just ice cold, doesn’t seem to flinch if he misses a chance, flinch if a goalkeeper saves one, he’ll come back and do the right thing. Scoring a goal is a process for them, where he knows where the target is.

    “It’s methodical, and he’s brilliant. He’s a great professional, and England are lucky to have him.”

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  • Bale could suffer setback working with Arsenal coach – Mourinho

    Bale could suffer setback working with Arsenal coach – Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho is concerned Gareth Bale’s best interests may not be looked after while he is on international duty with an Arsenal coach on the Wales coaching staff.

    Bale was this week recalled for Wales’ upcoming clashes with the United States, Republic of Ireland and Finland after missing their October matches due to a knee injury.

    Mourinho has eased Bale back into action following his loan move from Real Madrid to Tottenham as the forward builds his fitness up after spending so long on the sidelines.

    Robert Page has stepped in to take charge of Wales after the arrest of Ryan Giggs, who denies any wrongdoing, following an allegation of assault.

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    Page will be assisted by Arsenal coach Albert Stuivenberg, which Spurs boss Mourinho is not comfortable about.

    Asked about Bale’s fitness, Mourinho said: “I think he’s getting better and better. I felt that he could play 90 minutes [in a Europa League win over Ludogorets on Thursday] but it’s not about can or cannot, it’s about managing the situation and keeping him safe.

    “He’s player that needs to be safe, he’s a player that had enough problems in the past. He is working so much and we all are working so much and so carefully with him that we don’t want to destroy the work that everybody has been doing for the past couple of months.

    “Of course Wales have two matches where they play in the Nations League and I expect him to play, but if they care as much about him as they say they do, they have to manage the recovery periods, manage how many days between one match and another, manage the minutes he plays and they should not let him get into fatigue levels.

    “I don’t think, from what I’m reading, it will not be Giggs responsible for these matches and I’m sorry about that because in the previous fixtures, he called me, we spoke about Ben Davies – not Gareth, because Gareth was not there – and we shared opinions on the situation which is probably not going to happen this time.

    “The fact that one of their coaches is an Arsenal coach, doesn’t make me very comfortable. Honestly, it doesn’t make me very comfortable. I think national teams should have coaches that work exclusively for them, not coaches that work for other clubs.”

  • Eric Dier effort was not human, says Mourinho

    Eric Dier effort was not human, says Mourinho

    Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says Eric Dier’s call of nature midway through his side’s Carabao Cup win over Chelsea was a result of his superhuman effort.
    The England international had to leave the pitch midway through the second half of the fourth-round tie, which Spurs won 5-4 on penalties after it ended 1-1 in 90 minutes, to go to the toilet.

    Mourinho rushed into the dressing room to hurry him along as Spurs were playing the match with 10 men at the time and he came back out onto the pitch and then scored in the shootout.

    Dier was selected 48 hours after playing in Sunday’s Premier League draw with Newcastle and Mourinho says the incident was a result of his extra workload.

    “With Eric you can imagine what happened,” Mourinho said. “For him to leave the pitch it was easy to imagine what happened.

    “I knew it, I was just pushing him to come back as soon as possible, because no more changes, and one player less is the consequence of something not human that he did, which was to play two matches completely dehydrated, tired, no energy in the muscles.

    “Of course he is not playing Thursday because I would definitely kill him.”

    Mourinho responded with humour when it was pointed out that rushing someone to go to the toilet can have the opposite effect.

    He replied: “The problem is that was not a pee.”

    Dier saw the funny side of it afterwards and said he had no choice but to leave the pitch.

    “After playing on Sunday and then tonight, it wasn’t easy,” Dier told Sky Sports. “Maybe that was one of the reasons I had to run off the pitch in the second half. It wasn’t easy.

    “He wasn’t happy but there was nothing I could do about it really. Nature was calling! There was a chance when I wasn’t on the pitch but thankfully they didn’t score.”

    A long night looked on the cards as Spurs, playing without a recognised striker on the pitch, went behind in the 19th minute to Timo Werner’s first Chelsea goal.

    But Mourinho’s men got better as the night went on and deservedly levelled in the 83rd minute through Erik Lamela, which sent it to penalties.

    The first nine spot-kicks were successfully converted before Mason Mount missed the decisive one to send Spurs through to the quarter-final.

    It gave Mourinho a first managerial win over Frank Lampard and the pair ended the night as friends, though it did get heated midway through the first half.

  • United were better than us, says defeated Mourinho

    United were better than us, says defeated Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho conceded his former club Manchester United had deserved their 2-1 Premier League victory over his new team Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday and hailed the performance of Marcus Rashford.

    Mourinho took over as Spurs manager last month, nearly a year after he was fired by United.

    “I think they deserved the victory by their first half. We didn’t start well at all,” said Mourinho, whose side fell behind to a seventh-minute goal from Rashford.

    “I think for the first 30 minutes they were the best team, and I think because of that, for this strong 30 minutes where we were not there, and also because of the way we conceded the second goal, I think they deserved to win,” he added.

    Mourinho noted that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, held by Aston Villa and Sheffield United in their last two league games, had delivered their best displays against the top-rated teams.

    “United results against the best teams this season have been good. Chelsea, Liverpool, Leicester,” he said.

    “For the way they play it is easier for them. They are not afraid to have a defensive approach. It is easier for them against better teams, against teams who want more of the ball,” he added.

    The Portuguese, sacked by United after two and a half seasons in charge, had plenty of praise for his former forward Rashford.

    “When he plays from the left he is really dangerous and I knew that and gave the players the best information about it.

    “His first goal is a typical Rashford goal coming on the inside. Our boys knew that clearly,” he said.

    Solskjaer was unsurprisingly even more fulsome in his praise of the 22-year-old England international, who delivered a performance of real quality.

    “It’s the best he’s had under me. He was mature, strong against good Premier League players,” the Norwegian said.

    “It’s like he was back on the playground or in the back garden. We want them to have fun, there’s nothing dangerous out there – just 75,00 people, wanting to see the best,” he said.

    With some questioning Solskjaer after the club’s worst start to a season since 1988-1989, the win which moved United up to sixth, was a major boost.

    “The three points are massive for us. We’ve had too many draws this season and given too many points away from winning positions,” Solskjaer said.

    “We’ve made decisions that we had to and we’re looking to build this club to be better again and I can’t think short-term when I’m trying to do that,” he said.

    “When we turn the corner and win three or four games on the run, they will get that Man United feeling again.” (Reuters/NAN)

  • It makes no sense for Spurs to sign Ibrahimovic, says Mourinho

    It makes no sense for Spurs to sign Ibrahimovic, says Mourinho

    Tottenham Hotspur are not pursuing Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a potential signing because the Premier League club have a top striker in Harry Kane, manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday.

    Ibrahimovic spent one-and-a-half seasons with Manchester United under Mourinho, where he scored 29 goals and helped the club win the League Cup and Europa League, before joining Los Angeles Galaxy.

    The 38-year-old Swede, who also played under Mourinho at Inter Milan, is a free agent after leaving the MLS side this month.

    “It doesn’t make any sense for a striker of Zlatan’s dimension to come to a club where we have Harry Kane.

    “You are right about the connection (to Ibrahimovic). I would say we have one of the top strikers in England,”Mourinho told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League group game against Olympiakos.

    Spurs reached the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino last season but Mourinho, who replaced the Argentine manager last week, is not looking that far ahead.

    “With these boys I will never be afraid of any Champions League match.

    “We need to qualify. It’s only when my teams arrive in the quarter-finals that I start thinking that we have a chance. In this moment we are far from it.

    “Every Champions League campaign there are details around your success or failure.

    How many times I lost on penalties or in the last minute. Details make the difference.

    “As for Spurs last season, they had little details for them. VAR was with them (against Manchester City).

    The Lucas (Moura) goal in Amsterdam (against Ajax). To arrive in the final is an achievement but not history,” Mourinho said.

    The Portuguese also said that Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, whose contract runs out this season, was committed to the club.

    “I’ve spoken with him..The important thing is that he’s committed with us so let’s not talk about his future.

    “My decisions about starting him or not starting, selecting or not selecting, will be based on a perspective of a future. I cannot hide that,” Mourinho said.

    Spurs, who are second in Group B behind Bayern Munich, can secure qualification for the last 16 with victory over the winless Greek side.(Reuters/NAN)