Hugo Lloris felt able to get a little more personal than Jose Mourinho after Tottenham's European demise.
Lloris branded the performance 'a disgrace' and hinted at splits in the camp by accusing unnamed fringe players of failing to pull in the right direction when they were not selected.
'We had great moments in the past and could trust the togetherness in the team,' said the Spurs captain. 'Today I am not sure about that.'
After defeat at Arsenal and the humbling in Zagreb, this Lloris summary rings like an epitaph for the Spurs team created by Mauricio Pochettino. Briefly, they thrilled and challenged for the biggest titles and they won none.
Not only has Mourinho failed to galvanise them but aggravated some to a point where, according to Lloris, they have stopped caring, listening or carrying out his instructions.
'Honestly, I don't believe I had a similar feeling,' said the Spurs boss as he lingered on the shock. 'I had in Europe moments of big pain but caused by what football is. I lost two Champions League semi-finals on penalties. It hurts you, maybe I'm still bleeding.
'Today I have this very bad feeling because maybe for some people in football, football is a job or a way to make money. For me, it's much more than that. I never lose the basics of football: passion, heart, desire. I feel very, very hurt that I cannot find more words to describe it.'
So what next? Mourinho's job is not under immediate threat. Tottenham go to Aston Villa on Sunday and then break for international football.
The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City lurks next month, on April 25 at Wembley.
Beat City against the odds and Mourinho can claim to have delivered on his brief to win the club's first major trophy since 2008. Then what? Success in the shape of the League Cup did not stop chairman Daniel Levy sacking George Graham or Juande Ramos.
So, does Levy cut and run on Mourinho? It will mean another expensive pay-off not long after he stopped paying for Pochettino, while prising the likes of Brendan Rodgers or Julian Nagelsmann out of their clubs equals more compensation.
Or does Levy get in deeper with Mourinho? Does he purge the dressing room of disgruntled senior pros as Arsenal did for Mikel Arteta in January? Spurs still have Danny Rose at the club without a squad number. It's clear there are others the head coach would rather be without.
Another costly option, paying up fat contracts, associated bonuses, selling at a loss in a post-pandemic world and signing replacements, ideally with the elusive winning mentality.
All this, in Tottenham's case, while paying for their £1billion stadium.
Mourinho knows what it takes to win but another breakdown in player relations — palpable discord was the phrase coined at Chelsea — will fuel the theory that this generation of footballers do not respond to his brand of tough love. Maybe they can't handle his demands. Or prefer not to.
He is, without question, a demanding boss. Probably not a very nice one. Modern players know the manager is always disposable. Their agents know it, too. So do their legions of PR and commercial advisers.
Mourinho was leaning in this direction with the comments about money.
'We are speaking about football but we could be speaking about any other area in society,' he said. 'The basics of any job is honesty, commitment, desire and respect for the people who require you to do good work. That's what I expect to have every day, every match.'
Meanwhile, Joe Hart, reserve team goalkeeper and back-up to Lloris, issued an awkward video apology to Spurs fans because someone on his social media team assumed they had won 3-0 in Zagreb so posted a photo with the caption 'job done'.
Heaaknpz
1
I was so desperate for Tottenham to get at the final of europa and take the trophy, but I'm disappointed
Bincenstu
0
the only prob is mou, everywhere he goes he let his arrogance ruin players careers, remember what he did to pogba, now dele ali who was one of our best midfielders is an outcast this guy is mad
lol the problem is mou?? seriously?? let's be honest this tottenham team is very average. sure they've got Kane and Son. remove this two and you've got LoCelso and Bergwign and Alli and Moura players who would not get a look into any Guardiola team. Mourinho has often been accused of playing defensive football, but with this team are you seriously expecting to play Manchester City on the front foot? the problem is not really that they don't have attacking players, but if they play on the front foot, they expose a very very average defense. Look at the match against Everton in the FA cup, Mourinho played very attacking football from the go but look what happened, they conceeded 5!!! this team lack the desire and self motivation that would make Mourinho job easier for him. The English Media wanted to have Moirinho's head for not playing Alli more, he plays Alli and they fail. Now the fans are angry that he started Alli. Some people think Mourinho is responsible for Alli's poor form but that's not statistically true! Alli was already declining in form in Pochetinno's last months. why doesn't he use Bale more?? last year no one was even talking about Bale. everyone agreed that Bale was grossly underperforming and Mourinho managed him well so much so that people now expect him to play a 32 year old Bale in every game. Listen, Mourinho suffers in modern football because there are few players who play with heart anymore. it's all about the money now. These players have too much power..and they know it! it is sad what football has become. At chelsea we had players like Mikel Obi who would play his heart out even if Mourinho brought in the 85th minute. We had Drogba who played every match like his last. We have had players who have played on with head injuries, shoulder dislocations and so on. we don't have too many players like that anymore. The players of today hardly give their all. There are few players in that tottenham side that Mourinho can trust. These players have become soft and content and that's a player for demanding coaches like Mourinho. Now Mourinho is complicit in this team's poor performance too. I am not entirely expunging him of all blame. It's true that he ought to get better at player management after all these years. His 'devil may care' attitude isn't helping anymore and he is being left behind because of his failure to adapt. Tuchel is doing an excellent player management job at Chelsea presently and Mourinho could copy him.
Ceobiosyz
1
the only prob is mou, everywhere he goes he let his arrogance ruin players careers, remember what he did to pogba, now dele ali who was one of our best midfielders is an outcast this guy is mad
rehmotuy
1
Jose should go back to the defensive plan
BillyDedon
1
How much PSG gave you did you forget
Psg has a squad of over billion with world class players in every corner of the pitch now tell me how much does that Dinamo squad worth?
Govt99
1
why do you think spurs will sack MOU when there's only few games to play before the of th season.... Top4 is also an expectations for Spurs... The season need to end sacking him now is foolishness
pidbclnrst
1
JOB DONE. A confirmation that the players have succeeded in sacking Mourinho.
widckopy
0
not just lose but bottle a 2-0 advantage against Croatian team[Crylaugh]
How much PSG gave you did you forget
Andyroy
2
When the Mourinho syndrome begins to spring up, a lot of issues begin to come up. Its about time.... Here we go!!!
beece_ngumex
1
Mou about to be sacked
vaacilpuy
2
Very good article, thanks All Football. I really blame the players... what’s a coach to do on the pitch? They should give him another season... Look at his replacement in man united... barely surviving. Man united is in the number two positions because of the inconsistency of the good teams below them.., haha
Sad to see d negative attitude of some players despite of being paid thousands per week for their services.. If can perform they might as well RETIRE ya
rasbort
2
Very good article, thanks All Football. I really blame the players... what’s a coach to do on the pitch? They should give him another season... Look at his replacement in man united... barely surviving. Man united is in the number two positions because of the inconsistency of the good teams below them.., haha
fauimopruz
0
Only spurs can lose to a team whose manager is in prison. 😂
Why are you here, this is about spurs. Get lost n go bk to your gooners.
Zazdiknor
1
Don't give anymore chances again to the players who played very badly and cost spurs the defeat. Ndombele, aurier, Davis, Eric dier to name a few..
Miockmnt
1
special one coaching special spurs
BillyDedon
2
Only spurs can lose to a team whose manager is in prison. 😂
not just lose but bottle a 2-0 advantage against Croatian team[Crylaugh]
eamonmolony
3
Only spurs can lose to a team whose manager is in prison. 😂