‘The Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players’: Jose Mourinho accuses his Tottenham side of not taking European games seriously after conceding late equaliser at LASK
- Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League knock-outs with 3-3 draw
- Jose Mourinho was less than impressed with display of some players vs LASK
- The Spurs boss accused some players of not taking European games seriously
- Son Heung-min and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were only two singled out for praise
Jose Mourinho accused some Tottenham players of performing as if they considered themselves too good for the Europa League as they spluttered into the knock-out phase with a madcap draw in Austria.
Spurs slipped behind against LASK but fought back to lead 3-2 with the help of two penalties, converted by Gareth Bale and Dele Alli, either side of Heung-min Son’s 12th goal of the season.
Only to concede an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time, the third time Joe Hart had been beaten from long range on a night of sub-zero temperatures in Linz.
Jose Mourinho was less than impressed by Tottenham’s display in their 3-3 draw away at LASK
The Spurs boss accused some of his players of not taking the Europa League seriously
One point was enough to secure qualification from Group J – on account of a better head-to-head record against LASK – but Mourinho was far from satisfied, taking aim at some while singling out Son and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for praise.
‘The result was better than the performance,’ fumed the Spurs boss. ‘The second half was better than the first. Some players, individually, very good. Some players, individually, very poor.
‘Nothing new really. The fact is the Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players. When we go to Antwerp, to Ludogorets, to Linz, the stadium, the weather, the emptiness, the atmosphere, I have a feeling that some of the players feel that they shouldn’t be here.
Only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Son Heung-min were singled out for praise by Mourinho
‘It is a question of attitude. I have experienced it before, even at Manchester United. The players know my feelings. I share my feelings with them – and I am normally right – when I saw the warm-ups before the game. I had a feeling there was a huge difference in intensity, communication and enthusiasm between theirs and ours. It doesn’t surprise me.
‘The contradiction is that players like Son and Pierre are players starting every match and examples to the guys that it doesn’t matter where, and it doesn’t matter which competition. They are there and they are there for the team all the time. Without them I don’t think we would have a positive result.’
Spurs move on to the small matter of a derby against Arsenal when Mourinho expects Harry Kane to return up front and motivation should be less of a problem.