Another player transformed at Tottenham under Jose Mourinho

Bags packed and pretty much on his way to Heathrow before Mauricio Pochettino got sacked, Serge Aurier’s fate at Tottenham was all but sealed. 

That was until Jose Mourinho entered the fray. Aurier barely got a sniff earlier in the season when Pochettino was at the helm. And for good reason. Aurier was at best erratic, at worst a conspicuous liability. Expected to either be sent off, hand the opposition a penalty or commit an egregious error, Aurier’s tragic play had him all but set for a one-way ticket out of north London.

Since Mourinho took over, Aurier has been a revelation, offering Spurs stability and consistency at right back, the position that caused Pochettino countless sleepless nights, Everyone was demanding for a big-money transfer to bring order to the right flank. Little did we know that it would be Aurier who would commandeer the role, making it irrefutably his own.

The Ivorian has started in each Premier League match since Mourinho joined the club, and has excelled. Strong and responsible defensively, Aurier has been the model of consistency, growing in confidence with every passing week. He’s even contributing offensively, scoring the winner, an absolute beauty, against Olympiacos in the Champions League. A wild horse at heart, Mourinho has no intention of stifling Aurier’s mercurial personality. However, he does intend on extracting the best parts of his enigmatic character.

With Aurier, Mourinho has taken a page out of Pochettino’s book. When Pochettino arrived over five years ago, he was venerated for his man-management skills. The Argentinian motivated his players, getting the best out of them week on week.

Well Mourinho certainly knows a thing or two about eliciting the best possible response from his players. Aurier is Exhibit A on that list but is by no means the only player Mourinho has revitalized. Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Moussa Sissoko have all flourished under their new manager’s reign.

Of all those players, Aurier has arguably shone the brightest under Mourinho. His improvement has been drastic, nothing short of miraculous. It’s highly unlikely the Ivorian, who wanted out of Spurs just two months ago, is going anywhere.

Mourinho believes Aurier can be one of the world’s best right backs, and is pumping accordingly the Ivorian’s tires. Boost and nurture, but also provide some tough love. It’s Mourinho’s tried and tested recipe, which so often has led to the awakening dormant talent.

No longer are Tottenham supporters begging for a new right back in January, and no longer is Aurier’s erratic side rearing its ugly head. As long as that fact persists Tottenham supporters are in for a very Happy Christmas.