It is now one year on for Jose Mourinho in charge of Tottenham Hotspur as he prepares to welcome Manchester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pep Guardiola has also just signed a two-year contract extension, so Saturday will see two managerial giants going head-to-head in the Premier League once more.
One Year on for Jose Mourinho at Tottenham
How Has His First Year in Charge Gone?
Tottenham were floundering when Jose Mourinho took the job in November 2019. Following on from the Champions League final defeat to Liverpool, Spurs seemed to lose the drive and energy that had been such a feature of the Mauricio Pochettino era.
Mourinho started with a win over West Ham United, but when Spurs went on a run of four games unbeaten, questions were quickly starting to be asked. What was being forgotten was the fact that Mourinho had come in mid-season – which is not his preferred way to take on jobs – and was managing a team that had become tired and complacent. Little competition for places and a small squad meant he needed to try and limp his new team over the line. Champions League qualification was the aim, but realistically it was always going to be a tough ask. Spurs eventually finished sixth, qualifying for the Europa League.
Are Tottenham Potential Title Challengers Under Jose Mourinho?
Harry Redknapp caused a stir on transfer deadline when he said live on Sky Sports that he feels Spurs can win the Premier League title this season.
“I think they could even win the league this year,” the former Tottenham boss said. “I know people will think I’m crazy but you look at the squad. It looks like it could be an open year. Look at the results at the weekend – no crowds. I’m telling ya, that is some squad they’ve got. They’ve got cover in every position. In every position they’re strong, you know?”
Not everyone agreed, but since an opening day defeat at home to Everton, Mourinho has led his team to 11 wins, two draws and just one defeat in all competitions. Some games such as the wins over West Bromwich Albion and Burnley in the Premier League may not have been easy on the eye, but they show the resolve Mourinho is instilling in his players. It is an age-old adage that that type of form is the stuff of Champions.
Manchester City Struggling for Form
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has just signed a two-year extension to his contract that was due to expire at the end of the current campaign. However, this season has started slowly. Ahead of the trip to North London, Guardiola’s men find themselves sat in tenth position, five points behind second-placed Spurs.
Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero are both in line to start together for City, with Guardiola hoping their returns may ignite their season.
Mourinho’s Mind Games Continue
Mourinho claimed on his arrival at Tottenham that he was now ‘the humble one’, but he still hasn’t lost that ability to play mind games in his press conferences.
Ahead of the Manchester City match, he has focused on the absence of Raheem Sterling in the recent international match against Iceland. Eric Dier and Harry Kane both played with Harry Winks also appearing from the bench. Sterling was said to be injured, but the Tottenham boss believes otherwise.
“And of course we all know Sterling will play tomorrow,” Mourinho said to Football.London.
“When Eric Dier left the national team injured in the previous month, he didn’t play two matches for Tottenham. He didn’t play a Premier League match and a Europa League match. He needed a couple of weeks to recover and Raheem is going to play tomorrow.”
Celebration for Mourinho? Or Return to Form for Manchester City?
Jose Mourinho has Tottenham playing an expansive style, while Pep Guardiola’s City have been somewhat cagey so far this season. Will the roles be reversed on the pitch this weekend? What is certain is that this is a game where Tottenham’s title pedigree will be closely monitored. Manchester City’s ability to get back into form and start mounting a challenge will be equally under the microscope.
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