JOSE HITS OUT AT POOR ATTITUDE
Some of my stars think they’re too good for this, fumes Spurs boss
JOSE MOURINHO accused some of his Tottenham players of performing as if they considered themselves too good for the Europa League as they spluttered into the knockout phase with a madcap 3-3 draw in Austria.
Spurs slipped behind against LASK but fought back to lead 3-2 with the help of two penalties, converted by Gareth Bale and Dele Alli, either side of Son Heungmin’s 12th goal of the season.
But they would concede an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time, the third time Joe Hart had been beaten from long range on a night of sub-zero temperatures in Linz.
One point was enough to secure qualification from Group J — on account of a better head-to-head record against LASK — but Mourinho was far from satisfied, taking aim at some while singling out Son and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for praise.
‘The result was better than the performance,’ fumed the Spurs boss. ‘The second half was better than the first. Some players, individually, very good. Some players, individually, very poor.
‘Nothing new really. The fact is the Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players.
‘When we go to Antwerp, to Ludogorets, to Linz, the stadium, the weather, the emptiness, the atmosphere, I have a feeling that some of the players feel that they shouldn’t be here.
‘It is a question of attitude. I have experienced it before, even at Manchester United. The players know my feelings. I share my feelings with them — and I am normally right — when I saw the warm-ups before the game.
‘I had a feeling there was a huge difference in intensity, communication and enthusiasm between t heirs and ours. I t doesn’t surprise me.
‘The contradiction is that players like Son and Pierre are players starting every match and examples to the guys that it doesn’t matter where, and i t doesn’t matter which competition.
‘They are there and they are there for the team all the time. Without them I don’t think we would have a positive result.’
The Austrians dominated the first half, causing problems in particular for Matt Doherty at right back and hustling Spurs out of their rhythm and into mistakes.
Johannes Eggestein rattled a post and Hart made two saves to deny wing-back Rene Renner. The first, a routine save from distance and the second, dashing from his line to close the angle and save with his body.
It was a glimpse of vintage Hart but his fine work was undone when he was deceived by Peter Michorl’s swerving effort from 25 yards, three minutes before the interval.
Spurs were exposed when Doherty slipped in attack, LASK broke swiftly and Michorl was afforded bags of time and space to take aim with his left foot.
The Austrians deserved their lead but were unable to protect it. Bale levelled from the spot in first-half stoppage time when an effort prodded towards goal by Tanguy Ndombele struck Panama defender Andres Andrade on an arm raised above his head.
It was the last kick of the first half and Tottenham went ahead, early in the second, courtesy of a misplaced pass out of defence by LASK captain James Holland.
Ndombele pounced, seizing possession and releasing Son, who sped clear and never looked like missing.
Bale and Son made a mess of a glorious chance for a third, and the Austrians refused to give in. Eggestein levelled with a fierce
strike from the fringes of the penalty box. Hart reached it with a forearm but could only deflect it into the net.
Alli came off the bench and appeared to have won the game when he scored a late penalty, awarded for a nudge on Steven Bergwijn.
But there was one more twist as
Mamoudou Karamoko produced a wonderful curling equaliser to earn a deserved point for LASK.
Spurs move on to the small matter of a north London derby against Arsenal at home on Sunday when Mourinho expects Harry Kane to return up front — and motivation should be a little less of a problem.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Hart 5; Doherty 5, Sanchez 5.5, Tanganga 6, Davies 6.5; Hojbjerg 7, Lo Celso 5.5 (Dier 71min, 5); Bale 6 (Aurier 82), Ndombele 7 (Bergwijn 65, 6), Lucas 6 (Sissoko 65, 5); Son 7.5 (Alli 82). Subs not used: Austin, Whiteman, White, Winks, Clarke, Scarlett. Scorers: Bale 45+2 (pen), Son 56, Alli 86 (pen). Booked: Moura, Alli. Manager: Jose Mourinho 6. Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (Pol) 6.