JOSE MOURINHO has told Ryan Sessegnon to stop being a Shy ’un Sessegnon.
England Under-21 ace Sess is set to finally make his first Tottenham start at Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight.
Ryan Sessegnon is excited to play under the management of Jose MourinhoCredit: Reuters
The left-sided star, 19, has been hampered by a hamstring injury since his £25million summer switch from Fulham.
There has always been a lot of talk about the talented teen — but Spurs manager Mourinho wants to hear more from the youngster himself.
The Special One spoke to all of his squad individually when he took over from Mauricio Pochettino last month.
Sessegnon said: “He just sat me down, told me to be myself, told me to be a bit more vocal because I am quite a quiet player and person in general.
“He wants me to show a bit more personality, show a bit more of me, show that I want to play, show that I will fight for my place in the team and a lot of strong words really.
“Is that fair? Yeah, definitely, one hundred per cent. I’m someone who needs to be more vocal around the pitch, off the pitch and really want to stamp my ability on this game.
“I have to work hard to break through into this team. I think it’s a fair point that he’s made, to be honest.”
Sessegnon admits he was sad to see Poch sacked but is excited to play under his replacement, who tried to buy him three times while in charge at Manchester United.
He said: “For me, Pochettino was a big part of me coming to the club.
“I knew they had been watching me for a while and to finally get the opportunity to come to the club and play under him was a dream come true.
“Then, of course, for him to go suddenly was disappointing because, he was one of the reasons I came to the club.
“But that’s part of the game and the new manager has come in and I’m just trying to work and improve under him.
“As soon as Spurs appointed him, it was exciting. He’s a big manager in the game, he’s won things and as a young player you can only look to improve yourself under him.
“He’s always talking to me, giving me pointers and tips where I can improve.
“He’s a manager who wants to win things.”
Jose Mourinho is set to start Ryan Sessegnon against Bayern MunichCredit: Getty – Contributor
Mourinho has tipped Sessegnon to be the ‘new’ Ashley Cole, the England left-back he bossed successfully at Chelsea.
Sess said: “It’s flattering to be compared to someone like that, someone who I think is a great player and for someone like the manager to put my name in the same breath as Ashley Cole was big for me.
“It does give me a lot of belief and confidence for upcoming games and it makes me want to work harder to get more.
“I definitely had an eye on Ashley Cole when I was growing up. I was an attacking full-back, very aggressive but can also go forward and supply goals, assists and he was definitely one of the players that I looked up to.”
For now, though, Mourinho reckons his hot prospect is better suited to midfield.
Sessegnon said: “To be fair, I just tried to play where the gaffer tells me, whether it’s forward, whether it’s at the back, I just try to do my best for the team.
“I’m still at the point where if the manager wants to play me in either position then I’ll try to do well in both.
“I like to play anywhere down the left-hand side. I like to be comfortable, I like to learn and adapt so I can play in both positions.
“Attacking down the left- hand side is one of my attributes. I like to show good energy, run with the ball, get the team up the pitch rapidly and that’s a big part of the game.”
With Tottenham’s place in the Champions League last 16 as runners-up in Group B already secured, and unable to overtake leaders Bayern, Sessegnon is unlikely to be only Spurs star making their first start under Mourinho tonight.
Sessegnon said: “Champions League nights, big stadium against a big team, it will be exciting for me.
“If you’re a young player, these are the games that you want to play in. Hopefully I can contribute and get the win as well.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
