EURO TRASHED
Mourinho slams Spurs after Croats turn the tables
FURIOUS Jose Mourinho claimed his Tottenham players were ‘beaten on attitude’ as they crashed out of Europe courtesy of Mislav Orsic’s brilliant hat-trick.
Spurs led 2-0 from the first leg but had no answer for a Croatian team who turned the tables on them in spectacular fashion.
Praising the victors, Mourinho left little doubt about what he thought of his own team after their defeat in extra-time.
‘Dinamo’s attitude I believe is humble,’ he said. ‘It is desire, motivation, it’s pride, to prove to the world football market that they have quality.
‘I can call it also professionalism. For me professionalism starts in the attitude. You must have attitude every day and every minute of every game — and they beat us on attitude.
‘They left sweat, energy, blood. In the end they left even tears of happiness. I have to praise them. On the other side, my team. They didn’t look like (they were) playing an important match. If for any one of them it is not important, for me it is.’
Mourinho insisted he had done everything to prepare his players for Zagreb and match-winner Orsic.
‘We were not caught by surprise,’ he said. ‘I gave them all the information about Orsic. That’s all I can say. Congratulations to him because it’s a great night for him.’
Tottenham’s ability to conjure a defeat from the jaws of victory is back with a vengeance.
This was a feeble surrender against a team in the throes of genuine crisis, just days after head coach Zoran Mamic quit to serve a jail term. Mourinho had warned this contest was not over but such prescience is unlikely to spare him a barrage of criticism.
He was meant to be the man who restored a winning mentality and reacquainted them with trophies. This one was a prime target.
Orsic scored two wonderful goals in the second half and an even better third strike in extra-time, carrying the ball deep into Spurs territory before driving the ball low past Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham summoned a late flurry of activity. Dominik Livakovic made two fine saves to deny Harry Kane. An away goal would have sent Spurs through but they couldn’t find a way back.
They started slowly and were unable to lift the tempo when it mattered. They were fragile at the back, offering little resistance while their hosts bristled with momentum.
It did not help to be without the injured Heung-min Son and the suspended Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
But preparations must have been a breeze for Mourinho and his staff compared to the Dinamo dug-out. Mamic, head coach in the first leg, resigned ahead of the return after Croatia’s Supreme Court confirmed a jail sentence of four years and eight months for fraud as part of the embezzlement of millions from the club.
Damir Krznar stepped up from his role as assistant and the Croatian champions made life uncomfortable for the visitors.
Lovro Majer ought to have cut the deficit in the first half but dragged a low shot narrowly wide. Davinson Sanchez then made a vital sliding interception inside his own penalty area to thwart Arijam Ademi.
Tottenham wasted decent early chances to close the tie. There was an air-shot in front of goal from
Dele Alli while Erik Lamela had an effort blocked.
Dinamo continued to cause problems after the break. Captain Ademi, unmarked from a corner, headed straight at Lloris, a sweet strike by Orsic crashed into Sanchez and Bruno Petkovic curled over from an acute angle.
Orsic tested Tottenham’s nerves when he found the top corner with a superb goal, cutting inside Serge Aurier from the left and beating Lloris with a swerving drive.
Dinamo went after the equaliser. Mourinho made changes, throwing on Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso for Alli and Harry Winks.
Lo Celso made an instant impression, forcing a save from Livakovic with a deflected shot. Lucas Moura went close but the Croatians threw numbers forward in pursuit of a second goal.
They were rewarded when Orsic darted away from Moussa Sissoko to score his second, converting a cross by Iyayi Atiemwen with a crisp strike, in the 82nd minute.
Somewhat belatedly, Spurs acquired a sense of urgency. A header by Kane from a Gareth Bale cross was cleared off the line by Kevin Theophile-Catherine but Dinamo forced extra-time.
Bale fizzed wide from 25 yards on the run but Orsic then completed his hat-trick with a spectacular solo goal. Lloris might have done better but the same could have been said for all those who travelled from London to Zagreb. This was a dismal way to go out of Europe.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 5; Aurier 5 (Bergwijn 107), Sanchez 6, Dier 5, Davies 5 (Reguilon 91); Sissoko 5, Winks 5 (Ndombele 68); Lamela 5 (Bale 60), Alli 5 (Lo Celso 68), Moura 5 (Vinicius 85); Kane 5. Subs not used: Hart, Alderweireld, Doherty, Lavinier, Scarlett, Tanganga. Booked: Lamela. Referee: Davide Massa (Italy).