I could see lack of motivation in some Spurs stars: Mourinho
LASK 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3
TOTTENHAM manager Jose Mourinho accused some of his players of lacking motivation after they struggled to a 3-3 draw away to LASK in Group J of the Europa League.
A point was all Spurs needed to seal their qualification into the last-32, and while goals from Gareth Bale, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli secured progress with a game to spare, the visitors were not at their best in Austria.
LASK dominated the first half and caused problems throughout, with the away side’s back-up goalkeeper Joe Hart at fault for two of the goals.
Asked what he learned at the Linzer Stadion, Mourinho insisted: “Nothing new really. The fact that the Europa League group
phase doesn’t motivate some of the players, I knew it.
“That some players are fundamental for us and I always need on the pitch in any circumstance, a couple of these players to give a little bit of balance to the team.
“As an example, ( Pi er re - Emile) Hojbjerg and Sonny, without them I don’t think we would have a positive result. I’ve learned nothing really. The players know and I share my feelings with them, I am normally right.
“When I saw the warm-up before the game I had a feeling, and I told the players before the game that there was a huge difference in intensity, communication and enthusiasm in their warm-up and our warm-up.”
Spurs were without Harry Kane due to an unspecified injury, but Mourinho was able to provide a positive update on the club’s top goalscorer ahead of Sunday’s derby with Arsenal in the Premier League.
The 57-year-old added: “I believe he’s going to be fit. I’m not sure, he’s on treatment. He’s not in big trouble. I believe he’s going to play.”
While Tottenham have qualified for the knockout phase, only a victory at home to Royal Antwerp on Thursday will send them through in top spot and ensure they avoid sides which will drop in from the Champions League.
Mourinho said: “It’s a question of attitude, which I experienced before. Even at Manchester United I had a similar situation when we lost two matches away in the group phase and when we get to the knockout (stages) you get better opponents.”