On the latest episode of the Tifo Football Podcast for The Athletic, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Joe Devine and Alex Stewart have been talking about some of the latest goings-on in the Premier League, including an in-depth discussion of Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho.
The Lilywhites have endured a disappointing season in all competitions, currently sitting in seventh position (ahead of Thursday’s fixtures) in the Premier League, whilst they were knocked out of the FA Cup against Norwich and the Champions League against RB Leipzig under Mourinho’s management.
During the podcast, the trio tried to analyse some of the issues that the Portuguese manager is facing at Spurs, with Stafford-Bloor suggesting: (12:49)
“I think [Jose] Mourinho doesn’t have a problem in the sense that you hear a lot about third-year syndrome with Mourinho and about his combustibility and about the tension he creates with people that employ him. I don’t think we’ve reached that stage. He obviously has a few issues with people within the squad.”
TIF Thoughts…
It is easy to see why people mention Mourinho’s ‘third-year syndrome’, as very rarely has the 57-year-old manager lasted longer than three years with a single club in his managerial career. The issues that Stafford-Bloor mentions is perhaps directed at Tanguy Ndombele, who was heavily criticised by the Portuguese manager before the lockdown, and despite earning his manager’s praise for his effort in training ahead of the restart, he has failed to start a single game since the Premier League returned.
Can you see Mourinho lasting much longer with Spurs?
Yes
No
Therefore, we can see why the Athletic journalist is concerned about some of the issues that are already facing Mourinho, despite his brief time with the Lilywhites, however, perhaps with a full pre-season and fresh start next season, we will see the North London club perform to a much higher standard.