Wed 13 January 2021, 11:17
Tottenham HotspurJose Mourinho looks forward to this evening's Premier League clash against Fulham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Kick-off is 8.15pm.
1 - Last word on Marine
First up, a quick reflection on a special FA Cup third round occasion at Marine on Sunday...
Jose: “It was good. We won, we gave a good image of the Club and the professionalism of our players. As a Club, I believe everything we did for them shows our dimension. They were proud, and everyone who plays at their level felt some pride in the way they represented that level because they lost, but they competed. Overall, it was a very good FA Cup match.”
2 - Team news
The latest news on the squad...
Jose: “Honestly, I think only Gio Lo Celso is out. Apart from that, I believe maybe Bergwijn, maybe Lamela, maybe they have a chance to be back.”
3 - Fulham
After a tough start, Fulham have found form, four unbeaten in the Premier League and a 2-0 win at QPR in the FA Cup on Saturday...
Jose: “In this moment it’s difficult to play against them. To defend the way they do with five in the back, and sometimes a second line of four, other times with three, it's not easy to score goals against them, that's obvious. Then they have different ways of being dangerous. One thing is to be dangerous with Mitrovic, another thing is to be dangerous without Mitrovic, and they are good in these different situations. They can counter-attack well, they can arrive in crossing positions and create difficulties. They are a good team, they transformed a little bit their philosophy, they understood how to change, and they did it. They are having results, and it’s going to be difficult.”
4 - Scotty
Scott Parker spent a season at Chelsea under Jose before moving onto Newcastle, West Ham, Spurs (2011-13) and Fulham. He later managed our Under-18s before re-joining Fulham as coach, and now manager. Jose was asked in his press conference what he’s made of his career as a manager...
Jose: “Very happy, he was a great guy, a great professional, a team player. When he decided to go to Newcastle to play more than he was playing with us, that showed his character, that showed his personality and after that he had a very good career in the Premier League and the national team. Then he went back to Fulham on his learning process as a coach, progressively got the job, and what can you say? He got promotion, and after promotion, he is showing also that is very capable of giving them the stability to stay in the Premier League. I like him very much, he knows that, I don't hide it, and he feels it, so I am very happy with the good things he is doing.”
5 - Keeping it clean
It may be slightly under the radar, but we’ve now kept nine clean sheets in our last 15 games, and 11 in our last 20 - that matches last season's total in all competitions...
Jose: “Yes, and we have to try for one more, because clean sheets help us get results. The most important thing is to win matches, but I understand that the clean sheet shows organisation, shows commitment. It’s a good feeling not just for the keepers, but for the whole team. That helps you to win matches, but we need to score goals.”
