Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MOURINHO NEEDS A WHOLE LOT MOURA
Lucas is sure he can get the goals to keep Tottenham’s season alive with Kane and Son crocked
LUCAS MOURA is convinced Tottenham can find the goals to keep their season on track.
Jose Mourinho has been left with a major headache up front, with both Harry Kane and Heung-min Son ruled out through injury, and a run of crunch games without a recognised striker.
Spurs drew a blank on Wednesday night as they lost the first leg of their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig 1-0. They face another huge test against Chelsea tomorrow in the battle for a top-four finish and have also got a fifth-round FA Cup tie with Norwich to look forward to.
Moura and England midfielder Dele Alli were used as makeshift forwards against Leipzig.
And Moura said: “We lost two big strikers, but we cannot cry. That’s the game. Every team has problems such as this.
“I will give my best to score goals. I will give 100 per cent and we will go into the second leg at Leipzig with a strong mentality. We have the quality to go and qualify.
“We can turn it around, the game is not over.
“We did well with the system we chose to play. We had opportunities to score. We lost the game, but it’s not over.
“We know that, in football, anything can happen and we will not give up.
“We need to believe and that’s what I do every time. I believe in God, I believe in myself and I believe in my team-mates. We work hard and will see what happens.”
And defender Toby Alderweireld said: “People have to step up – not just one person. In one game, it will be one guy, another game it will be someone else.
“We must not stare blindly on this one result against Leipzig. We created a couple of chances against a very difficult opponent. We have to work hard and solve this as a team. This tie isn’t over.”
Tottenham’s players face a quick turnaround before tomorrow’s trip to Stamford
Bridge, which may give Chelsea an edge, but Moura insists they can gain revenge for their 2-0 defeat at home in December.
The Brazilian added: “It’s a big game. We will have had two days to rest and prepare and it’s a big opportunity to go into the top four. It’s one that we want to take.
“The game at home was really difficult for us – we didn’t play well, we didn’t do our best.
“Saturday will be very different. I’m sure we will play differently in that game.”