Mourinho Wants Tottenham Fans Who Want to Put on the Shirt
By Aaron Coe
José Mourinho had little to share in a brief pre-game presser before Tottenham versus Arsenal following the draw at LASK; but his comments on fans stood out to HotspurHQ.
José Mourinho is a writer’s dream, he almost always has something interesting to say, which often makes for interesting reading. The Tottenham coach did not disappoint in a brief presser on Thursday evening ahead of the Arsenal match on Sunday. José Mourinho spoke about playing Arsenal and about the fans, including the type of fans Tottenham need to get a lift on Sunday.
On Playing Arsenal
José Mourinho said that it is “always a good moment to play Arsenal and it is always a bad moment”. Mourinho went on to clarify that the good comes from the motivation associated with playing a big club. Additionally, “the rivalry between the two clubs” makes the game “even more beautiful to play” according to the coach.
Simultaneously, it is “always a bad moment” because Arsenal is a good team, regardless of what it may say in the table. It is the standing in the table that has some worried that Tottenham may be a little complacent coming into the match, which the coach was asked about. Of course, Mourinho went on to compliment some of the better wins of Arsenal over the last year, which have come against bigger clubs, including in the FA Cup against Chelsea and Manchester City and just recently against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
José Mourinho said Arsenal have several good players and are “fast in counter attacks” and “fast in transition” which is not something he needs to tell his team. However, Mourinho said he “probably will” say something, but that the team all knows it is a derby. Furthermore, as Tottenham versus Arsenal nothing else really matters, except that.
Fans Return for Tottenham
Arsenal got their first taste of fans in the stands on Thursday in Europa League, but Tottenham will have their first fans since March as approximately 2,000 fans will be in attendance on Sunday. In terms of the impact of the fans on the match, Mourinho said that it really depends on who the fans are and the profile of the fans.
Mourinho described the profile of two different fans, the first was coming to enjoy both the game and “the most beautiful stadium in England”. Mourinho seems to see this fan who is coming primarily to enjoy the stadium as a bit less raucous, with passion that will not make a difference. However, the alternative is the fan who wants to play.
If the fan “wants to go their (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) and play, if they want to go there and wear a Tottenham shirt, then yes, that can give a little bit more motivation and pleasure for us”. Mourinho’s point is not to sell jerseys, rather that the corporate fan who is coming for the gameday experience versus the fan coming to support the club are two different things and if we get more coming to support the club, then the fans can help.
It will be interesting to see the fans in the stadium and the impact it has on the players, the referee, and the game itself. While I know the clubs need the fans back and the television broadcasters need something to drown out the language from time to time, I have enjoyed the sound of pure football, but am excited to hear live singing again on Sunday. Hopefully that singing comes from a bunch of fans in jerseys, ready to play and support their Spurs.