Jose: I WILL win trophies

The first leg was a disaster, but Mourinho claims that his side will turn the tables to win the second leg and keep the Champions League dream alive

JUST 111 days into his reign as Tottenham manager, The Special One is already facing judgment day.

Jose Mourinho faces a huge test in the competition which first made his name but now he must prove it all over again with his reputation on the line.

Spurs are out of the FA Cup, face a huge task to get into the top four and going out of the Champions League at the first hurdle in the knockout stage would end any hope of winning silverware this season.

It would increase the negativity swirling around Mourinho, who was brought in because of his proven track record but always faced a thankless task to follow Mauricio Pochettino, who was adored by the fans.

This is Mourinho’s moment, the chance to shine and endear himself to the supporters but, amid a crippling and growing injury list, the task could not be much harder.

Tottenham trail from the first leg (top right, a dejected Giovani Lo Celso), do not have a fit centre forward and even new £26million signing Steven Bergwijn is out for the season.

But now Mourinho must mastermind another huge European result, the sort he achieved at Porto, led Inter Milan to glory against the odds and even won the Europa League with Manchester United.

No wonder perhaps Mourinho tried to turn the pressure on RB

Leipzig, who start as big favourites even if the Portuguese smiled and laughed his way through the pre-match press conference to try and prove he is not weighed down by the pressure.

He said: “I’m very motivated, very calm, very positive but if you want to imagine Leipzig without Werner, Schick, Nkunku, Poulsen, Forsberg, I am pretty sure the coach wouldn’t be laughing as much as I am now. Not easy.

“It’s not often a defeat leaves the door open. Of course we prefer to be in their position but I believe they will feel the pressure.

“They are winning and we are going to have a go and

have nothing to lose. We feel hurt by the fact we recovered 11 points in short period of time to the fourth position in the Premier League and then arrive in to a situation where we are really, let’s say, in trouble. “Momentum is negative in this moment in terms of results. “We lost and drew and one of the draws ended in defeat in the FA Cup on penalties. So momentum is not the best but the boys deserve something special.

“We fought really hard against all the circumstances and the boys deserve this kind of happiness that a victory in knockout in the Champions League can bring.”

Mourinho has won the trophy twice so it is always hard to make comparisons but this is a manager who has achieved incredible one-off results. He will need another one in Leipzig.

But Mourinho believes his players have the mental strength and attributes to get a result, although he says one-off wins will never compare with actually lifting trophies, which goes back to his first target as Spurs boss.

He said: “The achievements that stay for ever are the victories. Of course it would be amazing to do it but when you lose a final you throw the medal away and forget. Less than winning is not a big achievement. My big achievement in this competition is when we won.

“Defensively we feel the pressure and every time we make a mistake it looks like we’re punished. But when we understand opponents we don’t hide our fragilities and problems.

“We have to be together to have a fantastic individual performance to make our collective responsibilities very solid. I believe in the boys and I think we can make it.”