MOURINHO’S JOB ON LINE IF TOTTENHAM MISS EUROPE

JOSE MOURINHO is under pressure to deliver top-level European football — and failure is set to cost the Tottenham boss his job. A season out of Europe will hit the club’s finances, which have already been hurt by missing out on this season’s Champions League and the Covid virus. Mourinho’s position is under scrutiny after Thursday’s disastrous Europa League exit to Dinamo Zagreb but there are also concerns that the Portuguese is fighting a fractured dressing room and disharmony within the squad. There is also unease about keeping key players such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min happy without European football next season. Replacements for Mourinho have already been identified and Red Bull Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann is viewed as the perfect candidate. The German could be obtainable for £6million a year — under half of Mourinho’s £13million salary. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers would also be in the running. Mourinho has two years left on his deal, meaning he is entitled to a substantial compensation package. Sportsmail understands Spurs would look to put Mourinho on gardening leave, meaning they could continue to pay him monthly rather than fork out a lump sum. The club used this tactic with Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs would prefer to wait until the summer to make a decision but an implosion could accelerate matters. Sources claim the players are split over Mourinho’s pragmatic approach. There was disappointment at the way the team set up for the loss to Arsenal and the humiliation in Europe, with many rating the approach too negative. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris branded the performance ‘a disgrace’ and hinted at splits in the camp by accusing unnamed fringe players of failing to pull in the right direction when not selected. ‘We had great moments in the past and could trust the togetherness in the team,’ said the Spurs captain. ‘Today I am not sure about that.’ After defeat at Arsenal and the humbling in Zagreb, this Lloris summary rings like an epitaph for the Spurs team created by Pochettino. Briefly, they played thrilling football and challenged for the biggest titles — but won none. Meanwhile, Joe Hart, reserve team goalkeeper and back-up to Lloris, issued an embarrassing video apology to Spurs fans because someone on his socialmedia team assumed they had won 3-0 in Zagreb and then posted a photo with the caption ‘job done’.