Will the ‘Special One’ change the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur?
This season has been somewhat of a roller coaster for Tottenham Hotspur so far. With a successful run in Europe to reach the Champions League Final last season, Spurs looked as though they would spend another year comfortably floating at the top of the Premier League. They were never favourites in the English Premier League winner stakes, but almost nobody saw such a whirlwind start to the season on the horizon.
Mauricio Pochettino
The campaign began with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa, followed by a 2-2 draw with Manchester City, both were respectable results. But, when a 1-0 defeat popped up against Newcastle United in late August, little did they realise it was a sign of things to come.
It was when Colchester United from League Two knocked out the Lilywhites in the League Cup that eyebrows became raised and scrutiny fell upon Pochettino. With rumours flying around that Pochettino was desperate to leave the club after having so little funding for many seasons, people started to wonder if this was self-sabotage.
Then that awful, embarrassing, and shambolic 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich arrived. The sirens had sounded for Pochettino to be sacked as fans were enraged by his lack of tactical abilities. The side then suffered a defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, then a 1-1 draw to the league’s worst team at the time, Watford.
Although Pochettino had done his job well in previous seasons, fans were criticising his every decision. Statistically speaking, Pochettino is the fourth most successful manager Spurs have ever had, winning 54.27% of all his games - a little over 4% from reaching the top spot. But on 19th November it was announced he had left the club.
The ‘Special One’
After a shocking departure from Pochettino, fans were stunned with jaws wide open when as little as 24 hours later, José Mourinho was announced as manager. His reputation is impressive and he’s regarded as one of the most successful managers of all time.
His previous tenure at Manchester United ended with a sour departure, but after some time out, Mourinho was ready to accept a job that worked for him. The ‘Special One’ as he is often referred to seemed confident in his abilities to push Spurs towards victory as well as claiming his loyalty to the north London club: “I give everything to all of them and that’s what I’m going to do here, give absolutely everything I have. There’s not a fan in the world who wants Spurs to win more than me - maybe the same as me but not more than me.”
Since taking over at White Hart Lane, Spurs have managed to produce the attacking force they were previously lacking. With Dele Alli now moved into a familiar position to support Harry Kane, many fans are proclaiming that the youthful player that had lost his way is now back on track. This also goes for Christian Eriksen, a player who made it obvious during the summer months he wished to leave the club but after transfers fell through lost all form on the pitch - under new management, he seems to have a spark once more.
It’s early days, but with three wins from four league games, plus a win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, things are looking up for Spurs.
Mourinho does have some work to do. Although the goals are going in the net, they’re flooding in at both ends. Conceding two goals in each game - with the exception of their 5-0 win over Burnley -since his arrival is something he will look to rectify in the January transfer window. Here’s hoping he can turn the fortunes of the club around and put them back in the running for a successful season.
