Irish Daily Mirror

SPURS NEED MUCH MOUR

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer @johncrossm­irror

Coman 14, Muller 45, Countinho 64

RATINGS mirror.co.uk/sport/football

JOSE MOURINHO cut a desperate figure on the touchline as the size of the task in front of him was put into stark context.

He has won the Champions League twice in his glittering managerial career but, on this evidence, Tottenham look a long way short of being able to mix it again with Europe’s elite.

Mauricio Pochettino somehow got Spurs to last season’s final but they will need

Sessegnon 20 more than a slice of luck to pull off a similar miracle again, as Bayern Munich ripped them to shreds last night.

The Germans were far too good, far too quick and, having thrashed Spurs 7-2 at White Hart Lane two months ago, the aggregate score now stands at 10-3 in their favour.

That is some margin and Mourinho is not used to seeing his teams being outclassed, but that is what happened at the Allianz Arena.

Ryan Sessegnon, 19, scoring on his first start for the club, was the one bright spot on a night when far too often Spurs were chasing shadows.

There was nothing to play for with Bayern having already won

Group B and

Spurs sure of finishing second and qualifying.

But Mourinho will have wanted a better performanc­e than this.

The decision to leave Harry Kane, Dele Alli and a few others at home suggested he believes his players need a rest.

It was still a strong line-up but Bayern have the class and quality to pick holes in Spurs’ defence, while Christian Eriksen went AWOL in midfield, looking as if he has lost his motivation as he runs down his contract.

Bayern’s pace and movement down the flanks was far too much for the visitors, with young right-back Kyle Walkerpete­rs looking lost and Juan Foyth struggling at centre-half.

Serge Gnabry, who scored four when Bayern destroyed Spurs in October, was electric, Kingsley Coman rampant and left-back Alphonso Davies brilliant on the overlap.

It was no surprise when the home side went ahead after 14 minutes. Gnabry played in Coman and the France winger curled a shot beyond keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

It looked grim for the north

 ??  ?? Spurs players hang their heads after a bad night at the Allianz Arena
Spurs players hang their heads after a bad night at the Allianz Arena

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