LVER LINING

Their first trophy’ as he sets his sights on the Europa League

left after picking up just 14 points from the first 12 Premier League games.

With a string of major injuries to throw into the mix, Mourinho feels that reaching a Champions League place was always beyond the club, even if that is what they have become used to.

“I don’t want my players to be disappointed,” he said. “I want them relaxed because it was almost impossible to do it from months ago.”

Mourinho is not worried if his bold statement is thrown back at him every Europa

League game next season. “My record is good,” he said. “I played the competition twice, I got to the final twice, I won twice. In the Europa League I was never knocked out. I can only tell the players my experience. The feeling was great.

“The next season you play the Super Cup against the Champions League winners so you start the next season with a big thing to fight for.

“So I don’t care what you bring up and don’t bring up – I am just trying to motivate my troops.”

SEAN DYCHE claims Burnley do not have to cash in on any of their star players this summer.

Chairman Mike Garlick made a dire prediction back in April that the Clarets would go bust by August if football did not resume.

But football has returned and Dyche says the club can weather the substantial hit to their finances caused by the coronavirus.

James Tarkowski, Dwight Mcneil and keeper Nick Pope are all being eyed up by Burnley’s Premier League rivals, but Dyche says the club are no longer under any pressure to sell.

“It’s not a case that clubs can just make a call,” said the Clarets boss.

“There was a time during my time at Burnley when eventually players had to be sold to balance out the situation and safeguard the future.

“But the future is safeguarded – the immediate future particularly – by the finances in the club.

“Eventually, every player has their price, and you’ve seen some astronomical fees paid for people.

“The difference is we’re not having to sell. If we sell, it will be a decision made for different reasons than would have been the case four or five years ago.

“In the past, we sold players, but now we can

HEADING OUR WAY Harry Kane took Spurs closer to European football with this goal in the win over Newcastle MY DREAM TEAM Jose Mourinho told his Spurs players that silverware is within their grasp next term