We have to stay in touch, says Mourinho
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says his side’s goal is simply to keep themselves in the race for the top four until they get some of their big-hitters back.
Spurs are embroiled in a battle for fourth place with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Sheffield United and Wolves.
Having lost at Chelsea last week, Mourinho’s side face another potentially defining game at home to Wolves today, with the chance to move four points clear of them.
Their hopes have been hit by the loss of Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min, but they are all expected to play again before the end of the season.
And Mourinho says his side have to “survive” in the race until those players are back.
“We know that we are going to fight – and especially now that we have hopes that our attacking power, later rather than sooner, will arrive still on time to give us some help,” he said.
“It’s about trying to survive and to survive is to be there. It’s probably not to be fourth or fifth, but if we manage to be one point behind, two points behind, three points behind…
“We just need to be in contact because I think this is going to last until the end of the season.
“So we need to fight for every point and now it’s about Wolves – a team that is one point behind us and we know how difficult it’s going to be.”
Matt Doherty admits he never wants Wolves’ meteoric rise to end.
The defender has helped the club from League One to the brink of joining the European elite in six years.
Wolves are also in the hunt for fifth in the Premier League and are just two points off the spot which could offer a Champions League place after Manchester City’s European ban.
“I’ve been through it all here, really,” said the 28-year-old, who scored in Thursday’s 3-2 Europa League defeat at Espanyol as Wolves progressed 6-3 on aggregate.
“So we just have to enjoy this and hope it lasts a long time. We couldn’t have foreseen that back then.
“Since the manager came in, we’ve had nothing but success. I feel privileged just to be part of it.”