Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOUBLE ODDS
On any of tonight’s Champions League matches with
JOSE MOURINHO says there will be no room for “individuals or prima donnas” if he is to turn Spurs from serial underachievers into winners.
The Tottenham manager stressed the selfless attitudes of assist king Harry Kane and red hot Heung-min Son, who combined again to grab three points in the 1-0 win at Burnley on Monday night.
And he fired a warning to players frustrated on the sidelines that the team, not the individual, is everything.
“When you want to win, you do everything for your team. There is no space for individuals, there is no space for prima donnas,” said Mourinho, whose side went fifth with victory at Turf Moor.
The manager’s message seemed to be aimed at those not there as much as to the wider world. Dele Alli who has started just two from 11 matches thi s s e a s on , is known to be frustrated at his lack of game time.
Davinson Sanchez and Harry Winks were also left behind for the trip north.
But both Mourinho and Kane stressed all hands will be needed if they are to turn promise into silverware.
“There were a couple left at home that have been great for us this season,” said Kane. “But it is about making sure everyone is on the same page.
“We have to be all fighting for the same goal, and whoever steps in has to make sure they do their job.”
Spurs return to action tomorrow when they visit Belgian side Royal Antwerp in the Europa League.
“I trust the squad and the squad i s g e tt i n g more together,” said Mourinho. “It has the feeling of a team.”
The Spurs boss pointed to Kane and Son’s partnership as the perfect example. The pair have combined for nine goals so far this season and, with 29 in all, sit just seven goals behind Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba in the all-time Premier League partnership list.
Kane’s eight assi sts i n the Premier League also threat ens to eclipse th e record for laying on goals of 20 in a season