Jose Mourinho’s tactical approach has come under fire, not just from the pundits but the Tottenham Hotspur squad itself.
The Athletic claim that several dressing room sources have voiced their discontent regarding Mourinho’s tactical approach.
But the manager is yet to lose control of the whole dressing room yet.
Tottenham Hotspur Squad Unhappy With Jose Mourinho’s Tactics
Poor Form and Poor Football Causes Tottenham Hotspur Squad Members to Speak Out
There’s no hiding the ugly situation that Spurs find themselves in. The latest defeat to West Ham United rubs salt in an already all-too-raw wound that is worsening.
This poor run of form coincides with some dire performances on the pitch. The high pressing tempo of the Pochettino era is subsiding to a style that aims to smash, grab, then protect. But usually a defensive error splurts away all three points.
One dressing room source said: “Everything has changed, even the training is so defensively minded now.
“There is no plan to move the ball forward. The plan is to defend, boot the ball up to Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and that’s it.”
Perhaps it is no surprise that Spurs are concentrating on defending in training. Five of their seven clean sheets this season came before the New Year. But recently their form has dropped and they have only the sixth-best defensive record in the league (27 goals conceded).
The gulf between Spurs and Premier League glory is as almost as far as any other club trying to close the gap on Manchester City at the top of the table, whose defence has only conceded 15 goals so far.
Spurs in Despair but Still Have a Lot to Fight For
Some of the recent performances, against Everton and West Ham United, have been hard-fought with lots of chances created. Both games were also riddled with defensive errors. But the players did seem more committed, with Erik Lamela lunging into tackles and Davinson Sanchez putting his head on the block to stop a shot.
And yet the current piling up of poor results continue.
Tottenham are now seven points away from automatic Europa League qualification and nine points away from Champions League football.
With each defeat, the gap widens and fans and now even players are growing more and more frustrated.
But the club are still in the League Cup final and are on schedule to progress in Europe.
If Spurs can somehow keep it together to win a league cup and a European trophy then it would surely be the best season in the club’s recent history.
Mourinho’s job, to come in and to win some silverware, would be accomplished. Perhaps it would inspire the squad to push on for greater titles.
Otherwise, Julian Naglesmann is reportedly the man that the Spurs directors want to bring in to take the club back along the project-based route.
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