Jose’s juggling act as he bids to protect players in Euro bid

THE business end of the season means tough decisions about probabilities and priorities for Jose Mourinho.

Tottenham visit Fulham tonight in the first of six matches over another gruelling 18-day period before an international break which is already giving the Spurs manager sleepless nights.

As Spurs compete on the twin fronts of the Premier League and Europa League, not to mention a Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City, Mourinho’s decisions for the remainder of the month should be revealing as to which competition he believes offers the best route back into the Champions League.

After Fulham, Spurs host Crystal Palace on Sunday before the Europa League resumes with a two-legged last-16 tie against Dinamo Zagreb, either side of the north London derby at Arsenal on March 14. As well as local pride, a top-four finish is still on the line and Spurs can move to within three points of fourth-placed West Ham with a win at Craven Cottage.

The Europa League also offers a viable path back to Europe’s top table and the previous success of English clubs and Mourinho in the competition suggests Spurs should be considered among the favourites.

The challenge for Mourinho is to protect his players from the relentless schedule and the threat of mental and physical fatigue.

Finding the right balance has felt like a delicate process for Mourinho this season — one misjudged tweak and Spurs can look flat and hesitant or porous and reckless — but last weekend’s demolition of Burnley suggested a possible way forward.

A rejuvenated Gareth Bale added more menace to Spurs’ attack with two goals against the Clarets, while Toby Alderweireld helped restore an element of defensive solidity.

Mourinho, though, has already said that Bale “cannot” play against Fulham, Palace and Zagreb in the next seven days and suggested the Welshman could be on the bench tonight.

Given his explosive return to form last weekend, resting Bale would leave Mourinho susceptible to criticism if Spurs struggle against the Cottagers, but playing him in consecutive derbies risks leaving him unavailable for the crucial knockout against Zagreb.

The Spurs boss is also conscious of the need to manage Harry Kane’s minutes after the scare of his ankle injury.

The next six matches therefore demand careful and skilled management of Tottenham’s squad. Get it wrong and their season could quickly hinge on that League Cup Final against City. Get it right and they should return after the international break with two clear paths to a successful campaign.

Fulham remain without Tom Cairney as they look to continue their steady form, but the Cottagers are winless in their last 21 Premier League London derbies.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Bale, Lucas, Son; Kane

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Tete, Andersen, Tosin, Aina; Reed, Zambo Anguissa; De Cordova-Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman; Maja