22nd November, 2019
Jose Mourinho the new Tottenham Hotspur manager, who described himself as happy and humble, has vowed to bring success to the struggling north London club while saying they could even win the Premier League next season.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against West Ham United, a smiling Mourinho told a packed news conference at the club’s training ground that he wanted to bring stability to the team and would make few big changes.
Mourinho, who took charge of Tottenham on Wednesday, has inherited a squad that finished in the Premier League’s top four in four consecutive seasons but is currently languishing in 14th after a poor start to the campaign.
Asked if he had a Christmas transfer market wish list he declared himself happy with the squad but added that he would be making some tweaks to improve their performances.
“The best gift is the ones (players) that are here. I don’t need players. I am happy with the ones that we have.”
The Portuguese returns to club management 11 months after being sacked by Manchester United, where he made a poor start to last season and was criticised by fans and pundits for playing dull, defence-minded football.
“I’m not going to make the same mistakes. I’m going to make new mistakes. I’m going to be stronger,” said 56-year-old Mourinho, who cracked jokes and seemed completely at ease, unlike the grumpy manager who left Old Trafford under a cloud.
“From an emotional point of view I’m relaxed, motivated and ready and I think the players felt that these two days. I’m ready and I’m here to support them.
“In life, you go through periods like this, where it’s not about myself, it’s about my players and my club.”
He also paid tribute to his predecessor Pochettino and backed the Argentine to find happiness at a different club.
Mourinho said the club’s door will always be open for Pochettino, who guided Spurs to the Champions League final last season where they lost to Liverpool in Madrid.
“I have to congratulate him (Pochettino) on the incredible job he did,” Mourinho said.
“This club will always be his home, this training ground his training ground. He is always welcome here.
“Tomorrow is another day. He will find happiness soon. He will give everything like he did at this club. He will leave with sadness with the feeling that he did great work. It is what everyone at the club felt.”
Mourinho will be looking to end Tottenham’s run of 12 league away matches without victory when they visit 16th-placed West Ham, who are bidding for a first win in seven league matches.