DON’T CALL US ‘SPURSY’
We’re playing well and in it to win it, says Jose
Group J, kick-off 8pm
JOSE MOURINHO wants no more “stories about Spursy” as he seeks to complete a hattrick of Europa League titles.
The Portuguese coach has won the second-tier European trophy both times he has entered, with Porto in 2003 and Manchester United in 2017.
He put a picture of himself on Instagram (below) ( ) with three balls, , and the caption: “The three goals we conceded eded against West Ham? The three amazing goals we scored against them? hem? Or the two Europa Leagues I have in the pocket and a third one I’m ready to fight for?”
But the e only treble talk in north London this week has been of those three late goals conceded d at the Tottenham Hotspur r Stadium on Sunday – a classic examng example of being ‘Spursy’.
And the he meaning was not t lost in translation on on the e Spurs boss , w h o said: “The e past is not so important nt for me – the future is important mportant for me.
“To be honest what happened was completely pletely out of context of what has s happened this season, because against Southampton we were losing sing and were strong enough to change the result. Against Manchester United the worst thing happened to us, which was after one ne minute we were losing, , and we were strong enough to change that result.
“Against Newcastle we were solid, playing amazing and then what t happened is one of the beauties of the VAR decision.
“I believe we can play 50 more matches and it’s not going to happen again. So I don’t want to be stuck on this. No stories about ‘Spursy’ Spursy or this kind of thing. “We just have to defend se set-pieces better because the team is playing well. Apart from penalties, lateral free- kicks and VAR we are quite solid.” Out of favour Dele Alli ( le left) could be back in the squa squad for tonight’s opening Group J game against Austrian side LASK. And Mourinho could also start Gareth Bale (top, with Steven Bergwijn), w who came on as a substitute agains against West Ham. This may not be the competition the manager would choose to play in, but he said: “In this moment I am playing the Eur Europa League and we are going to try to win.
“It’s the third tim time I played in the competition and t the other times we won it, so my record is great.” Mourinho has also won two Cham Champions Leagues, while Bale won four with Real Madrid. The Welshman la last played in E Europe for Spurs i in the Europa L League against B Basel in April 20 2013.
““Of course he is not the same player, he is just different,” added Mourinho.
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