DIERECTION
The only way is up under Jose as motivated Eric targets big prizes
JOSE MOURINHO has a twinkle in his eye which makes you think there might be something going on at Tottenham.
In a season when results and scorelines continue to cause amazement, there might just be a surprise package in the title race.
Few gave Spurs a chance of the top four this season yet their start to the campaign suggests that might be the very least of their ambitions. Two points off top spot and a worldclass player among the goals.
Gareth Bale was a superstar signing in the transfer window designed to give Tottenham’s season a boost.
Harry Kane is in the form of his life – six goals, eight assists – while Heung- min Son is flying.
Mourinho looks a bit more like his old self rather than last season’s version when he was angry, annoyed and blaming everyone else for results.
This season, he is getting results and his little jibe about Bale after the Brighton win was classic Jose. It was him at his best, poking fun at Real Madrid and getting payback on his former club and fans.
“When I have five minutes I’m going on Safari to the
Real Madrid website to see what they say,” Mourinho.
After the moodiness and unhappy times at Manchester United, if this is truly the Happy
One as he called himself when he arrived at Tottenham, then maybe Spurs are on the way back. said
People behind the scenes talk of a manager completely fixated on success, he is popular again and determined.
Tottenham fans have taken time to warm to him because they loved Mauricio Pochettino and Mourinho was an ex- Chelsea boss whose style of football is hardly the Spurs way.
But Tottenham’s trophy cabinet has hardly been overflowing and maybe they need Mourinho’s winning habit to get them over the line.
His updates on social media have gone down well, from eating crisps on a private jet to revealing his public frustration at performances.
At a time when fans are excluded from stadiums, they have been invited into the secret world of the Special One.
It is a philosophy which has won over the players as Eric Dier says Mourinho’s single- minded attitude has left them believing they can win every game.
Dier said: “It’s very early on but our motivation is clear.
For us, we’re going into every game to try to win. We know that’s ’ not possible but that’s our ambition. We’re going into every game, no matter the competition, believing we can win.
“That’s a great feeling to have. The manager sets that tone from above. We’re focusing game- bygame and trying to win every game we play.”
The topsy- turvy nature of the season also gives weight to the argument that we could have an unexpected winner.
Dier added: “It’s been very difficult for everyone and the circumstances around it.
“The short pre- season, people starting at different times but I think things gradually will come back to normal.
“We’re happy with where we are, we could be happier.
“If you look at some games – the Newcastle game with the penalty, the Everton game wasn’t acceptable, and then the West Ham game. “It’s great to be up and running with a win at home and we’ll just look to keep working hard, keep pushing forward.”