Jose Mourinho may have determined that he “could not trust” his Tottenham team when inheriting the reins but will discover quickly that fans will not settle for “negativity in every home game”, says Jermaine Jenas.
Spurs’ latest outing saw them embody the dogged determination that their Portuguese coach is famed for.
Mourinho set his side up against Manchester City to contain and frustrate old adversary Pep Guardiola, with the hosts prepared to sit in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and wait for mistakes.
That game plan was played out to perfection, with the Blues shooting themselves in the foot.
Missed chances aplenty, including an unsuccessful penalty from Ilkay Gundogan, came back to haunt City, who also had Oleksandr Zinchenko sent off.
Spurs made their Premier League foes pay for their shortcomings, as Steven Bergwijn and Heung-min Son secured a 2-0 win, but Mourinho has been warned that more will be expected from his team once a new coaching regime has its feet under the table.
Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jenas told BBC Sport: “I don't blame Jose for playing the way he did against City, because of the way results went when he first took charge of Spurs.
“He knew he had goals in his team so he went out and just let them play, and they had some crazy results in the first few weeks when they were winning by all sorts of scores.
“That was never going to last. I could feel it coming where, in his mind, he went 'enough is enough'. He could not trust his team to go out and score goals, especially when Harry Kane got injured, so instead he started setting them up not to be beaten. That was clearly Tottenham's approach against City on Sunday.
“Look at Japhet Tanganga at left-back, for example. He was basically told 'you are not going anywhere today', so he had to stay back all game.
“It paid off for Mourinho in the end, but Spurs fans will not allow that kind of negativity in every home game.
“So he still needs to work on his side's style of play, but of course getting a result this way still has plenty of positives.
“Mourinho has been talking a lot about how his players lack confidence, which he probably did not expect when he arrived at the club.
“Well, getting through games like this one will give the players lots of belief, and we saw some other important signs too.
“Mourinho has sorted out Christian Eriksen's situation, by selling him to Inter, while Jan Vertonghen, another player whose future is uncertain because he is out of the contract at the end of the season, was on the bench.
“I looked out on the pitch and there was not a Spurs player out there whose focus I would be concerned about any more. Everyone was playing for the shirt, and giving everything.”
Victory over City has lifted Tottenham back into fifth place in the Premier League table, four points adrift of London rivals Chelsea and the final Champions League qualification spot.
Butabciuz
1
ACCURATE💯, soccer isn't just about winning. City outclassed us, not many fans would admit, but if you watched the game, you'd realise luck was on our side before the Zincheko red card. We played better afterwards, anyway Mou still needs some time, to clearly understand his players strengths and weaknesses, and it's very evident that's what he has been trying to do. Finding the best ways to improve the players as professionals. Trophies coming soon though. #coys
DGGaulle
1
Why do people hate this jose so much. He wins d grumble he loses d grumble
zoeekmnrt
5
this man is purely Anti-mourinho! He should go to the dogs. The main purpose of football is to win, whether defensively or offensively
Sicabdsu
3
Who is this???Waisted my time to read this bullshit
sikbimostu
4
what do u mean by negativity .surely this fellow don't understand what management is all about...
vaacilpuy
1
Hopefully d drastic change of JM style now vs his days in MU is gd for everyone in d team.. Let's secure d last berth for d balance 13 games left ya.. Cheers for d victory over MC
hupacepstu
0
it is obvious that humans from default in their nature cannot be satisfied. Mou. is a good coach in-spite of his tactics. He is a master of difficult situation. He and the players backed home 3 vital points necessary for the fight to top four. what else would you expect from a coach? Results are imperative.
you're perfectly correct...
lusimnuyz
1
it is obvious that humans from default in their nature cannot be satisfied. Mou. is a good coach in-spite of his tactics. He is a master of difficult situation. He and the players backed home 3 vital points necessary for the fight to top four. what else would you expect from a coach? Results are imperative.
It’s all part of the proganda scheme... Lots of people don’t want to accept it but it’s true, The media is bent on tarnishing Mourinho no matter what. They always find away to talk down his achievements or anything he does. If they play all out with City and gets whipped, they will still come and talk, even when he played this way to upset City, they still complain. Spurs needs to start showing consistency before they will be trusted to play the way they want, they have been losing points playing the way they want.
tubklmopz
12
it is obvious that humans from default in their nature cannot be satisfied. Mou. is a good coach in-spite of his tactics. He is a master of difficult situation. He and the players backed home 3 vital points necessary for the fight to top four. what else would you expect from a coach? Results are imperative.