Mourinho issues rallying cry to his new players during first team meeting

Jose Mourinho issued a impassioned rallying cry to his new charges during an energy-charged team meeting on his first day as Tottenham manager.

Spurs confirmed the appointment of the Special One on Wednesday morning following the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino on Monday night - and one of Mourinho's first tasks was to address his squad during a team-meeting at the club's Enfield HQ.

Mourinho has signed a three-and-a-half year contract worth £15million a year, almost double Pochettino's £8.5million deal. The deal was closed by super-agent Pini Zahavi, who originally brought Mourinho to England with Chelsea in 2004.

And the ex-Manchester United boss started the process of trying to repair what became a disillusioned squad as he addressed the squad for the first time at around 2.30pm.

Mourinho stressed the importance of putting the difficulties of the season behind them to pull together as they look to climb the table.

The Portuguese also told the squad - who failed to win a trophy during Pochettino's five-and-a-half year reign - they will be successful together provided they stick together.

Mourinho also told his players that their quality will see them climb up the table closer to the Champions League qualification places.

Mourinho - who also expressed to his players how excited he is to work with them - was said to be very 'business-like' on his first day.

Sportsmail understands Mourinho also held one-on-one talks with key members of the squad to outline his vision for the future.

Vice-captain Harry Kane - who is skippering the team in Hugo Lloris' injury absence - was one of the players Mourinho held individual discussions with.

Mourinho views Kane as integral to his plans and has told chairman Daniel Levy that the prolific striker, under any circumstances, cannot be allowed to leave.

There have been growing fears within the club that Kane is becoming agitated at the fact he is yet to win a trophy, but Mourinho will not entertain letting the England captain leave.

Privately, Mourinho is not giving up hope of mounting a challenge to qualify for the Champions League this season, despite the fact Spurs are currently 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City. He intimated that aim to his players on Wednesday.

One of the key factors behind chairman Daniel Levy's decision to axe Pochettino was because he believed the club had no chance of securing a top-four place with the Argentine in charge given the malaise that had engulfed Spurs during the final months of his reign.