IT’S A SPECIAL ONE-ONE! JOSE’S STODGY

ON THE last day of term, Tottenham were given a free run at the toys and nearly ended up choking on one. What a grubby slog of a match at the end of a grubby slog of a season, — and it says near enough everything that they celebrated reaching the Europa League via a draw with a team on a seven-game losing streak. There was a time not so long ago when Jose Mourinho (left) was quite sniffy about those Thursday night appointments. There was a time far more recently when Spurs had bigger fish and better fryers. Then and now, him and them. And so they have to take this qualification for the success that it is. Success for the club in comparison to a lower finish and success for Mourinho because it is indisputable that he rescued Tottenham’s season. They were horrible to watch in the weeks before he arrived and they have often been horrible to watch since, but it is a brand of horrible that has secured results and sixth place. That is what Daniel Levy wanted badly when they were 14th under Mauricio Pochettino in November and it is what he got — there have been five wins, three draws and only one defeat since the restart alone. Praise be to Mourinho and likewise the creator of that old phrase about there being no pictures on scorecards. Time will tell how he builds this team in his image and style, which is so very different to that of Pochettino. In the absence of the funds, he is accustomed to, it will be awfully hard, and for that reason his appointment remains a curious one, even in the light of a job done well. This game was an example of how ponderous Spurs can look. At times, they were even at the mercy of Crystal