Jose Mourinho accuses Tottenham players of lacking motivation after Europa League draw with LASK
Written by News on 04/12/2020
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho accused some of his players of lacking motivation after they struggled to a 3-3 draw away to LASK in the Europa League.
A point was all Spurs needed to seal their qualification into the last 32 and while goals from Gareth Bale, Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli secured progress with a game to spare, the visitors were not at their best in Austria.
LASK dominated the first half and caused problems throughout, with the away side’s back-up goalkeeper Joe Hart at fault for two of the goals.
Asked what he learnt at the Linzer Stadion, Mourinho insisted: “Nothing new really.
“The fact that the Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players, I knew it.
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“That some players are fundamental for us and I always need on the pitch in any circumstance, a couple of these players to give a little bit of balance to the team.
“As an example, (Pierre-Emile) Hojbjerg and Sonny, without them I don’t think we would have a positive result. Nothing really that I learn. The players know and I share my feelings with them, I am normally right.
“When I saw the warm-up before the game I had a feeling and I told the players before the game that there was a huge difference in intensity, communication and enthusiasm in their warm-up and our warm-up because I was looking at both. Nothing surprises me.”
Kane ‘not in big trouble’
Mourinho provided a positive update on Harry Kane, revealing that the striker is “not in big trouble” and should be fit to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
Mourinho revealed on Wednesday that the England captain would miss Thursday’s trip to Austria with an unconfirmed issue, and that the striker had “a chance” of being fit for the north London derby.
“I believe he is going to be fit,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference.
“I’m not sure – he’s on treatment.
“But I could be now doing some bluff or trying to pretend that he’s in big trouble. He’s not in big trouble. I believe that he’s going to play.”
Tottenham go into the weekend at the top of the Premier League table having gone unbeaten since the opening day of the season, with Kane’s form a crucial factor in their success.
Kane has scored seven goals and contributed nine assists in 10 Premier League appearances this campaign, forming a formidable partnership with Son Heung-Min, who has nine league goals.
Spurs earned a hard-fought point in a goalless draw at in-form Chelsea last weekend, but will expect their forwards to have more opportunity against an Arsenal side low on confidence.
Mikel Arteta’s side have gone three Premier League games without a win and sit 14th in the table going into the match, which is live on Sky Sports.
‘Fans privileged to return for derby’
The derby will see fans return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since March after the Government relaxed restrictions on spectators attending live games.
Two-thousand Spurs supporters will be in the stadium to watch their team attempt to beat their biggest rivals and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Mourinho has welcomed the move, saying: “I think this moment will be a privilege. They will feel privileged to be one of the 2,000 fans.
“But it’s just the first step. As soon as possible we will have football back to normality.”
MNF extra: How Jose’s tactics have evolved
When Jose Mourinho was at Manchester United, something just didn’t feel right. Perhaps, it was the fit and also the way Jose was.
We always used to refer to ‘Mourinho masterclasses’ when he won games and that he was wiser, smarter and cuter than the opposition managers. There’s been an element of disrespect in the past few years whereby his style of play has been criticised as being outdated and that the game has now passed him by.
After taking four points from their last two Premier League fixtures, Gary Neville believes Jose Mourinho has found success through innovating an old tactic…
Pitch to Post Preview: Redknapp assesses Tottenham and Arsenal; Plus the return of fans, Chelsea’s striker dilemma, and more!
This week on the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Jamie Redknapp joins Peter Smith and Adam Bate to look ahead to the north London derby and assess Tottenham and Arsenal’s contrasting form.
Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett also has the latest from Leicester and the future of Jonny Evans, while we discuss whether Olivier Giroud should be Chelsea’s first-choice striker and Man Utd’s tricky trip to West Ham.
Plus we hear from a Charlton supporter about the experience of returning to watch live football. Adam also makes his bold Pitch for what he thinks will happen in this weekend’s Premier League action – and it’s good news for the teams in the relegation zone…
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Jose Mourinho faces off against Mikel Arteta live on Sky Sports this weekend, giving the Gunners the chance to amend their inconsistent form against the Premier League leaders and fierce rivals.
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(c) Sky Sports 2020: Jose Mourinho accuses Tottenham players of lacking motivation after Europa League draw with LASK
