Tottenham: Mourinho discusses relationship with Danny Rose
Tottenham brought in Jose Mourinho to replace Mauricio Pochettino but only two months later the Portuguese coach is facing opposition from his squad regarding his tactics and training sessions.
According to The Sun, several Tottenham players are dismayed by his old-school tactics and feel his training sessions lack any imagination.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy suggested the club were in good hands with Mourinho who he said is one of the most successful managers in football.
But players have been left unimpressed and they think training focuses too much on long balls, flick-ons and throw-ins in what has been described as being like “lower-league” sessions.
After taking Tottenham to the Champions League final and finishing fourth in the league last season, Pochettino struggled this campaign.
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The midfielder has only been involved in 20 games in all competitions, during which he scored two goals and provided three assists.
Mourinho has publicly criticised Ndombele and revealed that the player had asked not to play against Brighton on Boxing Day.
He last played for Spurs on New Year’s Day when they lost 1-0 to Southampton and players feel his mindset has been damaged by Mourinho’s comments.
Since that clash Ndombele has been sidelined with a hip problem but is back in training and Mourinho revealed he could feature for Tottenham when they take on Norwich City tonight.
“He’s ready, he’s not ready for 90 minutes,” Mourinho said.
Tottenham news: Players think training focuses too much on long balls, flick-ons and throw-ins (Image: GETTY)
“I’m not telling you to start or come later, but no injury. Completely free.
“Just a question of condition and mentality to be ready, but he’s back tomorrow.”
Spurs currently sit eighth in the league and could go as high as fifth depending on how results pan out in other games.
However, while Tottenham come into the match having won only once in their last five Premier League matches, Mourinho thinks there is still a lot to play for this campaign.
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“You look to the Premier League table and apart from the champions, that is done, apart from City and Leicester, that they’re also very comfortable in their positions, you look to the rest of the table and two victories and two defeats will make a huge difference,” he said.
“The people in the relegation zone, they win two matches and they come out of it.
“The people fighting for top four or six, you lose two matches and you drop back and you win two matches and you go up. So I think every game has a meaning.”