Mourinho criticised for sending “negative messages” amid Spurs search for new identity
Jermaine Jenas has accused Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho of being too negative whilst attempting to rebuild the north London club.
The much-travelled Portuguse tactician replaced Mauricio Pochettino last November after Spurs managed just five wins across their opening 17 matches.
Mourinho at Spurs: Five key things to know…
- Jose Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs manager in November 2019.
- He’s since overseen 26 matches in all competitions.
- Spurs have won 42.3% of their matches under the three-time Premier League winner.
- If the league began from his appointment, Spurs would be fifth and 21 points behind Liverpool.
- However, they are set to finish 2019/20 trophyless after being dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League.
They’ve since won 11 times in 26 matches under Mourinho but recently saw any chances of any silverware this season go up in smoke.
The Lillywhites were dumped out of the FA Cup by Norwich City on penalties before RB Leipzig, eliminated them from the Champions League courtesy of a 4-0 aggregate scoreline.
As things stand, Spurs sit seven points below the Premier League top four and a run of three consecutive winless games — including back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Wolves — has not helped their cause.
During this run, which has seen Mourinho unable to call upon key personnel, the former Man Utd boss has been accused of sending the wrong messages to his players.
Jenas is convinced that Mourinho’s negative represents the wrong stance and remains confused as to what type of side the north Londoners are trying to become under the Portuguese’ guidance.
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“It’s not a rant but what I will say is I will reserve judgement on Jose until the summer, until he brings in his new players because I think the players haven’t been good enough,” he told MOTDx.
“What I don’t like about Jose at the minute is the negativity. I think he’s been far too negative in terms of the message he’s been sending out with the players.
“I know we’ve got injuries to Kane, I know Son’s injured and now [Steven] Bergwijn.
“But I think there needs to be a more positive structure going out to the players. And overall I still can’t see what the team are and how they’re trying to play.
“Are they a passing team? Are they a pressing team? Are they a team that plays deep and tries to counter attack?
“I don’t see from game to game, and I can’t tell you from game to game, what team he’s going to put out.
“He had the best part of six centre-halves playing against Burnley. He has won everything there is to win in the game, so that’s quite a good reason why you’d want to go and play for him. He is a serial winner.”
The Premier League is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic but Spurs’ next three games are due to be against Manchester United, Sheffield United and Everton as they attempt to turn their fortunes around.
