Why Tottenham Hotspur is not the same team Mourinho coached

How Paratici has improved Spurs from Mourinho

One can argue that there were moves that Mourinho would have made but never had the chance, but the reality is that three key transfers differentiate Spurs of late 2022 from early 2021.

Romero over Alderweireld

It is almost blasphemous, but the first significant upgrade for Tottenham is Cristian Romero over Toby Alderweireld. In 2021, the Belgian could still ping the ball with the best of them, but his ability to defend was not what it was in his primer. Romero is a plus defender looking to move to an elite level.

While Toby was elite at one point, he was not in 2021 as a right back; Romero is a significant upgrade for both the position and Conte’s aggressive defensive philosophy and approach.

Bentancur over Sissoko

Like Alderweireld, Moussa Sissoko was a good soldier for Tottenham for a long time. However, unlike Alderweireld, Sissoko was never elite. Even on his best days, Sissoko’s athleticism cannot match the intensity and silky smooth skills of Rodrigo Bentancur.

Bentancur is as willing a defender as Sissoko ever was and is likely stronger in the tackle. Furthermore, on the ball, Bentancur is on a different plane than the Frenchman, who was known for his lack of composure on the ball. Whereas composure is something, Bentancur has in spades.

Kulusevski over Ndombele

This is both a tactical upgrade and a player improvement; however, Dejan Kulusevski at right wing in a front three has made Tottenham far better than Tanguy Ndombele as an attacking midfielder. After arriving in January with Bentancur, Kulusevski was a central playmaker for Tottenham, scoring five goals and assisting 8 in 20 appearances for the club.

Kulusevski gives defences a player they must account for, and his work rate up and down the pitch makes him a contributor on both ends.

Unlike Sissoko and Alderweireld, both long gone from Spurs, Ndobmele continues to hang around as the team struggles to offload him. Regardless, the addition by subtraction from removing Tanguy from the mix and the addition by addition of Kulusevski have made Tottenham a better team.

Sure, this current summer transfer window creates a team farther removed from the one Mourinho left, and however, the fundamental differences are three players and some coaching.