Trouble brewing behind scenes for right back at Tottenham

Serge Aurier left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after being withdrawn at halftime in loss to Liverpool, apparently storming off like a child who didn’t get his way. 

While we don’t know the details of Aurier’s premature exit from the building on Thursday night, we can definitely make an educated guess based on evidentiary context. Dominated and convincingly beaten by Sadio Mane, Aurier was overcome by the occasion, schooled in every imaginable way.

Mourinho made the right choice, albeit 45 minutes late, to withdraw the Ivorian. Aurier, in an emotionally fuelled moment of madness decidedly impetuously to leave the stadium, leaving the lads high and dry for the conclusion.

Nobody, other than those in the locker room at halftime, know what transpired during the interval. But one doesn’t need much of an imagination to form a viable opinion, especially after seeing Aurier prematurely, like he we was dissed at a high school party, head toward the exit.

Mourinho is definitely not faultless in this scenario, as he is the one who set Aurier up for failure in the first place. That, however, does not justify nor excuse Aurier’s decision to abandon ship. No matter how livid, a professional should have the maturity to put his personal grievances aside for the good of the collective.

I imagine Jose isn’t the easiest person to get along with when times are tough, but that never excuses a petulant outburst of this immature nature. Hopefully the irascible, bad-tempered right back can swallow his swollen pride and apologize to the gaffer. That’s what is needed to begin the healing process.

And even then, an apology will not be nearly enough to get back into Jose’s good graces.

While it could be sensationalist to say so, these type of issues can unravel quickly, sometimes even spelling the beginning of the end for a player whose unwavering defiance parallels his manager’s inflated ego.