Why Tottenham Hotspur is not the same team Mourinho coached
By Aaron Coe
While many of the protagonists for Tottenham Hotspur remain the same as when Jose Mourinho was coach, Spurs are not the same team as when he left.
If you look at the last team that Jose Mourinho fielded for Tottenham Hotspur and the team he is likely to face as coach of Roma tonight, there are some obvious similarities and some stark differences. With some analysis, you realize Spurs are not the same team they were when Mourinho was fired, and there are some significant reasons why.
What remains from Mourinho’s reign at Tottenham
If you examine the last team Mourinho set up at Tottenham, in many ways, it is not that far from an Antonio Conte side, having used a 3-4-1-2 against Everton some 470 days ago. It is pretty likely that the team Conte starts against Roma will include five of the same eleven that Mourinho used against Everton.
Forwards Heung-min Son and Harry Kane were stars under Mourinho, and that trend continues under Conte. Likewise, Pierre Hojbjerg was a stud holding midfielder for the Portuguese tactician, and the Danish destroyer continues to prowl equally effective under the Italian gaffer. Hugo Lloris has arguably been top-class under both Mourinho and Conte.
However, the fifth player that both coaches favour starts to separate the current Tottenham team from Mourinho’s charges and is a clear example of the Conte effect.
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