The beginning of 2021 was imagined to see Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham facet actually kick on however that has simply not occurred in any respect.
Placing Manchester United to the sword and popping out on prime in opposition to the likes of Man Metropolis and Arsenal, a lot was anticipated of Spurs within the remaining few months of the marketing campaign.
Sitting prime of the pile previous to their late 2-1 defeat at Anfield within the week main as much as Christmas, the Lilywhites now discover themselves down in ninth after a nightmare run of 5 defeats from their final six league fixtures.
At the moment 9 factors off West Ham in fourth with a sport in hand nonetheless to play, Mourinho and his crew actually do want to show issues round in a short time certainly if they’re to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League by way of the highest 4.
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As worrying as Tottenham’s type has been for the reason that flip of the 12 months, the top coach’s post-match feedback following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat could have involved many after he said that Spurs have issues that he can not resolve himself.
Talking to BBC Match of the Day on the London Stadium, he mentioned: “I really feel that we’re not within the place in relation to our potential. Even when I believe for an extended, very long time that we now have issues within the crew that I can not resolve on my own as a coach.
“Our potential is larger than the place we’re so in fact there may be frustration. We ought to be in a greater place. To consider a prime 4 spot is getting very tough. To play within the Europa League will give us a window of alternative to get a Champions League spot by profitable it. In fact, tough, however it’s doable.”
So what precisely was Mourinho alluding to with the issues he can not repair himself? soccer.london takes a glance.
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Particular person errors
Particular person errors have actually hampered Tottenham this season, with Sunday’s defeat at West Ham one other instance.
Eric Dier actually ought to have taken management of the scenario because the ball was swung into the field earlier than Michail Antonio discovered the web, with Davinson Sanchez not doing sufficient to cease Jesse Lingard for his or her second aim.
The massive difficulty for Spurs is that it’s practically occurring each single week relatively than as soon as sometimes.
January’s defeat in opposition to Liverpool was maybe essentially the most notable instance of particular person errors costing the crew dearly and Mourinho labelled it “a efficiency completely affected by defensive particular person errors” when talking to the media after the sport.
Sadio Mane pounced for Liverpool’s third aim after a Joe Rodon mistake
(Picture: Marc Atkins/Getty Pictures)
Mourinho fairly worryingly nonetheless does not know his finest backline and he is possible to make use of the remaining months to lastly decide over who precisely begins week in, week out.
Nevertheless, he merely can’t be blamed for the person errors made by gamers as he can practice all of them he desires at Hotspur Method through the week however that’s out of his management as soon as they cross the white line.
Errors are totally all the way down to the gamers and the very fact it’s occurring approach too usually means that he wants to deal with issues within the switch market.
Switch window
Mourinho might have additionally been alluding to Spurs’ switch exercise in his post-match feedback.
Bringing two gamers to the membership final January in Steven Bergwijn and Gedson Fernandes, he then added seven to his ranks in the summertime.
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Mourinho and Daniel Levy have been lauded for his or her switch enterprise in such a tough window to function attributable to restricted funds caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, but latest shows have highlighted that Spurs nonetheless need to do far more available in the market if they’re to hit their lofty targets.
Given cash to spend with Bergwijn and Sergio Reguilon delivered to N17 for first rate charges, he might really feel they should go that bit additional when it comes all the way down to charges with the intention to sort things.
Man Metropolis appear to have addressed their defensive points with Ruben Dias becoming a member of from Benfica for £65million, with Liverpool’s signing of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in 2018 for £75m additionally reworking their facet.
That is precisely what Levy might need to do in the summertime by making extra money out there if Spurs are to seek out a solution to their issues as soon as and for all.
Gamers stepping up
Tottenham fairly clearly ought to be so much larger within the desk with the gamers Mourinho has at his disposal.
Whereas Harry Kane has been wonderful this season and demonstrated that he’s a lot greater than only a goalscorer, others within the crew must be doing precisely the identical.
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been superb since his summer time transfer from Southampton however he’ll really feel he might have carried out higher in latest weeks, whereas Tanguy Ndombele is certainly getting there after such a hard first 12 months on the membership.
Son Heung-min has additionally impressed this season however he has been relatively quiet at instances in some video games.
Hugo Lloris, Dier and Sanchez must be doing a lot extra at current, whereas Gareth Bale’s 45-minute cameo at West Ham hints that the very best from him could also be about to come back between now and Could after such a disappointing begin.
As is the case when it comes all the way down to particular person errors, there may be little Mourinho can do as soon as gamers cross the road and they need to be capable of increase their very own sport by having the appropriate perspective, as each Dion Dublin and Alan Shearer questioned on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night, to make sure that they get the job carried out on a matchday.
Mourinho has at all times had gamers in his crew who would run by a brick wall for him and he now wants that greater than ever from all of his squad if they’re to place an finish to their dreadful stoop.
