“I don’t need new players” – Mourinho happy to work with current Spurs squad
José Mourinho has dismissed suggestions he needs new players at Tottenham, insisting he is happy to work with the current squad.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager was speaking in his first press conference since being appointed Spurs boss on Wednesday.
Mourinho has replaced Mauricio Pochettino, who struggled to get the best out of a squad with numerous problems this season in terms of performance and contractual issues.
Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen – three key players during much of Pochettino’s reign – have entered the final year of their contracts and have struggled for form this term.
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This has led to talk of a squad overhaul in the January transfer window, but Mourinho has described the players currently at his disposal as a “gift”.
“The best gift are the players who are here. I don’t need new players. I just need to get to know these ones better,” said the Portuguese.
“I know them well but you never know them well enough until you meet them.”
Asked what he has said to the Spurs players so far, Mourinho responded: “I told the players I came here because of them.
“I tried to buy some for different clubs and some I didn’t even try because you know how difficult it was.”
Alderweireld and Eric Dier were both strongly linked with Manchester United at different times while Mourinho was in charge at Old Trafford.
