Recap (26/11/19 - 04/12/19)

From Jose Mourinho’s first 4 games in charge at Tottenham Hotspur, he has won three while losing the other against his former team Manchester United.

Image Credit: The Telegraph _

Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 2 Olympiakos

26 November 2019 | Champions League

By Lee Clow

Jose Mourinho made it two wins from two as Tottenham fought back from two goals down to beat Olympiakos 4-2 in a dramatic Champions League tie sending them through to the knockout stages.

Having started off on winning ways under the reign of Jose Mourinho, many Spurs fans went into his second game with full confidence, however it did not start the way they expected.

Olympiakos found themselves 2-0 up with only 20 minutes played when goals by Youssef El Arabi and Ruben Semedo stunned the home crowd. This bright start promoted a big call by Mourinho who substituted holding midfielder Eric Dier for Christian Eriksen right before the half-hour mark.

Tottenham were poor for much of the first half, despite the change, but eventually they got a foot hold back into the match thanks to a bit of luck. A cross from Serge Aurier down the right was completely missed by defender Yassine Meriah allowing Dele Alli to tap home making the score 1-2 right before halftime.

In the second half Tottenham found an early equaliser when a quick throw-in, involving the ball boy and Auirer, caught out the Olympiakos defence allowing Lucas Moura to square the ball towards Harry Kane to fire home.

From this moment, the game was all Tottenham and after 73 minutes they completed their spectacular comeback. Aurier, who looked rejuvenated under Mourinho, became the hero as he smashed home a half-volley on the edge of the area making it 3-2 to the home side.

The Tottenham faithful were lucky enough to witness a fourth goal as their side cemented the victory. From a Christian Eriksen free kick, Kane notched home making him the quickest player to reach 20 goals in the Champions League having played just 24 games.

Jose Mourinho spoke after the game apologising to Dier, who he substituted after 30 minutes when Tottenham found themselves 2-0 down. "The most difficult moment of the game was not when they scored the first two goals, it was when I made the change in the first half.”

"It hurt the player but also myself. It's not easy for him or me. It's important that the player understands, and I was lucky my choice was a very intelligent boy who has very good understanding of what the team is, because I did it for the team. It was not about his performance, but what the team needs."

"We are losing 2-0, in a very difficult situation in that moment, and I felt that one positional midfield player was enough. I thought I needed a second creative player who could play with Alli in what I call the open triangle, and not with a closed triangle. I apologise to Eric, but he knows I did it for the team and not to hurt him. I think the fans understood too."

_

Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 2 Bournemouth

30 November 2019 | Premier League

By Lee Clow

Dele Alli was on show once again as Tottenham ran out winners 3-2 against Bournemouth in Jose Mourinho’s second league game in charge.

Having rejuvenated Tottenham since the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho was looking to win back to back games in the league when his side returned home to face an inform Bournemouth.

Spurs started the game slow but eventually took control before firing ahead in the 21st minute. Heung-Min Son latched onto a lovely ball from the back from Toby Alderweireld before squaring the ball across to Alli who tapped home the opener.

If it wasn’t for VAR, Spurs would have had a second when Davinson Sanchez fired in from close range. The replays showed before the goal, Sanchez had controlled the ball with his arm following a Moussa Sissoko shot.

In the second half Tottenham finally made it two with a goal very similar to the first. Alderweireld again delivered another beautiful ball from the ball towards Alli who controlled it excellently before placing it into the back of the net giving Spurs a two-goal cushion.

Not long afterwards it seemed Spurs had the game in their grasp as they made it 3-0 following a deadly counterattack. Alli involved one again fed in Son down the left who delivered a teasing ball into the box for Sissoko to fire home from a volley to score his first goal for Tottenham in 95 games.

With the game wrapped up, Spurs took their foot off the gas and this allowed Bournemouth to create some chances in the hope for a spectacular comeback. Harry Wilson scored another tremendous free kick past Paulo Gazzaniga after 73 minutes making the score 3-1.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Harry Wilson made it two for himself and two for Bournemouth as Tottenham were caught napping at the back making the last few seconds intense in the ground.

With the clock still ticking, Bournemouth managed to create one final chance in the hope of an equaliser. A straight ball from the back found Callum Wilson onside and through on goal but he miraculously was denied by a last-ditch challenge by Jan Vertonghen who made up the ground keeping Spurs lead intact. Tottenham held onto victory to move six points behind Chelsea in the final Champions League place.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho spoke after the game about his sides victory: “Of course in the Premier League, games are never finished and even in our best period where everybody had a feeling that the result could go for four or five because we had so many opportunities on the transition to score more goals, then the result is a bit strange.”

"But that's the difficulty and the emotion of the Premier League. I could say we conceded four goals in four days at home, but I prefer to say we scored seven which is fantastic." _

Manchester United 2 – 1 Tottenham Hotspur

30 November 2019 | Premier League

By Lee Clow

Marcus Rashford scored twice as he came to haunt Jose Mourinho on his return to Old Trafford as Manchester United beat Tottenham 2-1.

Having won his opening three games in charge as Tottenham manager, Jose Mourinho faced his biggest test yet as he returned to his former club Manchester United at Old Trafford. Mourinho faced a mixed reaction when entering the stadium that he used to call home.

Tottenham went into the game as favourites with United in poor form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but it was the home side who started the brighter of the two sides.

United were quicker, more aggressive and more clinical than their opponents and it soon paid dividend when they scored an early goal. Rashford latched onto a loose ball from Davinson Sanchez, having been pocketed by Jesse Lingard, before unleashing a vicious shot towards goal catching out Paulo Gazzaniga on his near post.

The home side could have had two or three if it wasn’t for multiple saves by Gazzaniga who partly redeemed himself for his early error. The Argentine goalkeeper’s most notable save came from another fierce shot by Rashford who’s shot was tipped onto the bar.

The visitors, after riding waves of attack from United, eventually settled into the game and gained some control. Five minutes before half time, Spurs found themselves level when their man of the moment stepped up again. Following a great save by David De Gea, the ball fell to Dele Alli who spectacularly flicked the ball back towards goal and fired home to level. Alli has now scored in three consecutive appearances for Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions for the first time since March 2017.

In the second half, the Red Devils once again started brightly and soon had the chance to get themselves back in front. Rashford, involved again, was tripped by Moussa Sissoko after charging past him into the box leaving the referee no choice but to award the spot kick. Having won the penalty, Rashford stepped up to take it and after a short wait, he calmly placed it into the back of the net with Gazzaniga going the wrong way.

For the remainder of the game, Spurs failed to create any real clear-cut chances to equalise securing the victory for the home side. United could have had more goals but were denied by Gazzaniga’s heroics.

After the game, Jose Mourinho admitted his former side deserved the victory over his side: "For 30 minutes United were not just better than us, they were much better than us. They were much better in the intensity, in the aggression, they were winning first balls, second balls, 50-50 duels. But we were lucky, and in the last 15 minutes of the first half we were us, and United were in trouble.”

"We scored a goal and I thought we were going to win it in the second half after the adjustments we made at half-time, but the second goal was not an easy one to process because everyone says it is a penalty, I prefer to say it was a throw in because the penalty was later. In the first minute of the second half it was a throw in, and that for me was really hard.”

"You want to start at 1-1 and go for the three points, but then we arrived in the second half and they played the game they wanted to play. They dropped the blocked, defended, had a couple of dangerous counter attacks. We had the ball in the final third, the goal could have happened, but it didn't, and they deserved the victory."

What’s next?

After a disappointing defeat Jose Mourinho will be looking for his side to respond as they face Burnley at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.