Jose Mourinho demands time to work at Tottenham after Liverpool Champions League question
Jose Mourinho swatted away suggestions that he can take Tottenham one better than last season in the Champions League ahead of his European debut with Spurs.
Posted Tuesday, November 26, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Jose Mourinho has told his Tottenham players that their Champions League final appearance in June counts for nothing.
"To arrive in the final is an incredible achievement but it's not history," he said. "History is winning."
However, he promised that if the players come on board with his philosophy, he will turn them into a team who can go up against any team in Europe with no fear.
Tottenham are back in Champions League action against Olympiakos with a draw enough to reach the knockout stages with a game to spare – unless Red Star Belgrade beat Bayern Munich, in which case the Premier League side will need all three points to guarantee their place.
Mourinho refused to say whether his new charges can go one better than that final defeat to Liverpool in Madrid in June.
Despite previously winning the Champions League with both Porto and Inter, Mourinho will not even entertain talk of trophy success until he has got at least to the quarter-final stage.
However, given time, he believes he can give his players the winning mentality that was never fully developed under Mauricio Pochettino.
"We have to qualify but, give me time to work, give me time to float my ideas with these boys and I will have no problem at all going to any stadium at all to face any big opponent in Europe or in England," he said.
"We are not going to be afraid of anybody."
Jose Mourinho demands time to work at Tottenham after Liverpool Champions League question (Image: GETTY)
Jose Mourinho demands time to work at Tottenham after Liverpool Champions League question (Image: GETTY)
Jose Mourinho demands time to work at Tottenham after Liverpool Champions League question (Image: GETTY)
That said, Mourinho believe Tottenham themselves have the best stadium in the world and he hopes his players can start getting the results to turn it into the same fortress that the old White Hart Lane was in the past.
Spurs fans chanted his name at the end of the 3-2 win at West Ham on Saturday and Mourinho insisted he had no nerves ahead of his home unveiling.
"I believe that tomorrow can be the restart of that empathy between the supporters and the team," he said.
"With bad results, you lose a little bit of empathy, so let's hope tomorrow can be the start of that empathy coming back.
Jose Mourinho demands time to work at Tottenham after Liverpool Champions League question (Image: GETTY)
"The players will feel more happiness and get a good feeling to play at home and to feel the supporters are playing with them and make them stronger.
"Hopefully tomorrow is a good start."
Mourinho meanwhile ruled out a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, insisting that signing the free agent would make "no sense".
"Amazing player, amazing guy, but I would say no chance," he said of the Swede, with whom he has worked twice before.
"We have the best striker in England. It doesn't make sense to sign him when we have Harry Kane."
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