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Publication date: Thursday, October 29, 2020 8:25 AM
José Mourinho was frustrated to see some of his fringe players failing to make their mark as Tottenham slid into a weak 1-0 Europa League loss to Royal Antwerp.
Mourinho made nine changes to his team for the game in Belgium, but was still able to name a strong team.
Dele Alli had just his third start to the season. People like Gareth Bale, Carlos Vinicius, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Lo Celso, and Harry Winks took their places in the lineup.
The Spurs entered the game without losing since the first day of the season. However, a goal just before the half hour from Lior Refaelov gave Antwerp a deserved victory – and left Mourinho licking his wounds.
Clearly frustrated by what he witnessed in Belgium, Mourinho later admitted that he would have caught all 11 players at halftime if he could have.
In the end, Mourinho made four at halftime and his fifth and final change in 58 minutes.
“I would like to do 11 [changes], “he admitted.” I didn’t do five because I was scared of the long 45 minutes.
“At half-time I tried to improve the situation but it was not enough. The second half we improve. In the end though Antwerp got what it deserved. The best team won and the worst lost ”.
Mourinho admits he knows his strongest eleven, but wants to use the Europa League for some fringe stars to prove themselves.
However, he was clearly frustrated by what he witnessed. Without mentioning names, Mourinho admitted that his deputies had failed to get his attention.
“You know who our best team is. I always like to think that players deserve a chance. We have a great squad ”, he explained. “It is also your opportunity to seize the opportunity with both hands and ask for more.
“[After] Tonight my future choices will be very easy. “
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Mourinho will not point the finger at Dele Alli
Alli was one of the substitutes at half-time and his lack of impact will once again make his future questionable.
Having been about to go out in the summer windowThere he could not take advantage of his opportunity and now he seems to be in the hierarchical order of Mourinho.
However, the Spurs manager refused to blame the midfielder alone.
I don’t want to analyze individually, ”Mourinho said when asked about Dele. “It’s fair to say that players with poor performances influence the team, but also a team influences individual performances.
“It is not for me to individualize and put some names on the table.”
Asked for his thoughts on Antwerp, Mourinho concluded: “They are what we analyze. They got into a situation where we let them win. I don’t want to take credit from them. “
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