If Tottenham Reflect Mourinho, Spurs are Ready for Liverpool

José on Historical Results

Asked about historical struggles from Tottenham at Anfield and José Mourinho gave us some real insight into the details that he pays attention too in football, and it is not the historical record. In speaking about playing at Liverpool “in the last couple or maybe more than that years everybody struggles there because nobody wins there and even other clubs with good records at Anfield they struggle to get good results”. In other words, do not make this about Tottenham, when it is about Liverpool and their success, not Spurs struggles.

Even though teams struggle there that history does not “mean much” anyway as Wednesday “is an isolated game” where Tottenham will not “change our philosophy, we don’t change our wishes we want to win”. In other words, history does not matter, this is a game being played today not yesterday and regardless it is just another match and there will be another on the weekend to follow.

Despite the rather rote answer about historical results, José was pressed on the fact that Spurs have lost the last five matches against Liverpool but are on a good run. We learn here that streaks are not the “kind of stats” that José likes, “because (in) football every event is an isolated event”. In other words, each game is unique.

Mourinho then explained his meaning, “You know when I play against Newcastle you tell me that I never win in Newcastle but then we won when you tell me I always win against the team A then I lose against the team A”.  The point is, these numbers do not matter, what matters is the match on the day. However, if you like numbers José told us the kind he likes.

Instead of looking at the numbers, Mourinho wants to know the why behind the numbers. He looks “to why Liverpool gets so many consecutive good results at home why and start from there”.  He continued “don’t start from the last five times Liverpool won against Tottenham or the last ten times these are that it’s just why they have so many good results at home and start from there”.

Ultimately, it does not matter how many matches or how many months, as they do not change the fact the team goes into the game to win. Further, a streak says nothing about how and why, and it is the how and why that must change to end the streak.  In other words, streaks do not end on their own, so tell me why they are on the streak and I can tell you how to snap it. It is our hope as fans Mourinho has figured that out.

The good news for Tottenham is the focus is clear, now it is up to the players to execute and win.  In the end beating Liverpool is “not a statement it’s just a match but I don’t hide that we go there, and our objective is to win”. If José Mourinho’s current form is any indicator, Spurs have chance to do just that.