Spurs a pony in a horse race – Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur “are a pony” who aren’t within the title race, stated boss Jose Mourinho as his facet returned to the highest of the Premier League desk.

That is the primary time Tottenham have completed a day prime of the league after 10 or extra video games since January 1985.

“A draw right here is often a optimistic factor. My dressing room just isn’t completely happy. That’s the neatest thing,” he stated.

“It’s incredible. It’s a full change of mentality and persona.”

Spurs haven’t gained a trophy for the reason that 2008 League Cup, dropping the 2019 Champions League last to Liverpool underneath Mauricio Pochettino.

Their solely two league titles have famously are available years ending with one – 1951 and 1961 – as this season will.

Mourinho tried to quell that speak, regardless of praising his facet’s mentality.

“We’re not even within the Spurs a pony in a horse race – Mourinho race so we’re not a horse. We’re a pony,” he stated.

In February 2014, Mourinho stated one thing related about his Chelsea facet: “The title race is between two horses [Arsenal and Manchester City] and a bit of horse that wants milk and must discover ways to leap.” They completed third.

At Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Mourinho gave Wales centre-back Joe Rodon, a summer time signing from Swansea, a primary Premier League begin – and stated he was a distinction to Brazil’s Thiago Silva, who joined Chelsea from Paris St-Germain.

“You see the distinction: Joe Rodon was taking part in for Swansea, Thiago Silva was for a lot of, a few years the most effective centre-backs on the earth,” stated the previous Chelsea boss.

“Perhaps one month of Thiago’s wage pays Joe’s annual wage.

“In fact, Chelsea are one of many greatest contenders, there isn’t any doubt about that. I imagine for them it is not an issue in any respect to be two factors behind.”

‘If we’re contenders, Spurs must be’

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard performed 215 instances for the Blues underneath Mourinho. A win would have made him the one supervisor to beat the Portuguese in three consecutive league video games.

He believes his former mentor’s group are title challengers.

“It is Jose’s name to say it as he sees it from his finish, however they’re prime of the league,” stated Lampard.

“If we’re contenders then they must be contenders.

“They’ve invested closely – they have folks like Gareth Bale sitting on the bench, and Dele Alli’s not right here.

“There aren’t simply ourselves, Tottenham and Liverpool which can be within the race, there are loads of groups round us on this season which is trying barely totally different to current seasons.”

‘A present for the followers’

Mourinho says he’s delighted that his group will probably be prime of the desk at the beginning of the weekend that followers are allowed again.

Spurs’ derby with Arsenal subsequent Sunday will happen in entrance of two,000 followers after the federal government agreed to let a restricted variety of supporters into English soccer video games outdoors essentially the most Covid-affected areas.

“We keep prime. I like the sensation. The sensation of taking part in the primary sport with public and being prime is a present for the followers,” he stated. “Not simply these 2,000 however what they symbolize – the universe of Tottenham followers.”