Jose: There were so many mistakes

JOSE MOURINHO claims it is Spurs’ players who are to blame for the loss of another late lead rather than himself after their draw at Newcastle. They have now squandered 11 points from goals conceded in the final 10 minutes this season — more than any other side in the Premier League. Spurs were 2-1 up thanks to Harry Kane’s double when Joe Willock levelled for the hosts five minutes from time. Mourinho was asked why his side were so vulnerable late in games, as he has traditionally been a coach whose teams have seen out such slender leads. He replied: ‘Same coach, different players.’ It was a cutting response that is unlikely to go down well in the Spurs dressing room and is a further indicator of discord behind the scenes. Mourinho did not hold back on the defending that led to Newcastle’s two goals, either. Joelinton scored the opener after failed clearances from Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez, and Willock smashed in from close range after a series of errors. ‘It was a bad result,’ he said. ‘I’m not being disrespectful to Newcastle, but it was a match to win. There were so many mistakes that led to instability, and that leads to hope in the opposition. ‘That is why we didn’t win the game. We had chances to kill it. ‘The first goal — the moment we had the ball, the moment we lost the ball and the positional play that allowed Joelinton to score. ‘For the second goal there were three periods — the moment of the cross, the ball at the far post and the second ball in front of the goal. ‘We always gave Newcastle a chance to be in the game.’