Jose Mourinho’s third-season syndrome has happened a campaign earlier than usual after he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur, a stint at the club that lasted just 17 months.
The news came within 24 hours of plans for a new ‘European Super League’, which included Tottenham among six Premier League clubs. The immediate speculation suggested that Mourinho refused to take training – and even possibly quit – as a result of the news for a new league.
The truth lies in the performances on the field though. Tottenham’s turgid style of play has been by talisman Harry Kane who has continued to impress by diversifying his skillset to accommodate his team-mates – sometimes to the detriment of his own ability to score.
Mourinho’s appointment in November 2019 was one that received backlash, not to the extent we’ve seen since the announcement of the new European Super league, but eyebrows were certainly raised.
During his spell on the touchline at the new and impressive, yet unsponsored, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; Mourinho experienced his second-worst win ratio in his managerial career, suffered the most defeats in a single season and dropped 27 points from winning positions – the third-most in the league.
Mourinho inherited a team that had come off the back of reaching the 2019 Champions League final and seemed like they were heading in the right direction. What the Portuguese manager hadn’t realised was the issues behind the scenes.
Spurs were a club lacking the grit, the determination, the nastiness which has become synonymous with Mourinho teams in the past. And a realistic look at the squad will tell you that two players at the most would be considered in the top bracket of players in their position and without one, or both, you’ll find a team lacking any focal point or clear offensive game plan of any excitement.
In truth, the two were never meant for each other. Chairman Daniel Levy was blinded by the name and the reputation of trophies and instant success. And perhaps the fans were as well, because Spurs supporters more than most would take a trophy or two if it meant sacrificing attractive football.
This however makes the timing of the decision so much more mystifying. The north London club play in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, a rare chance at silverware that Spurs fans are crying out for. With Manchester City coming off the back of a loss in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and Leeds in the Premier League, would you really want to shake things up this much just days before?
A possibility is an argument behind the scenes that have been some sort of final straw. As ever with Mourinho the possibility of an interaction with a player, disharmony in the dressing room etc are all suggestions circulating at present.
As for Mourinho, you’d think the want for him in the Premier League would be minimal at best now. However, the name itself does – and will do – carry weight in the footballing world. The question is, for how long?
By Will Tyrrell
