THE jury is still out on Jose Mourinho as Tottenham boss, according to Gary Neville.
But the Manchester United legend admits the Special One at least looks a lost happier at the Spurs than during his miserable Old Trafford stint.
Jose Mourinho appears to be enjoying life at Tottenham as he approaches a year in chargeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mourinho is preparing to celebrate his one-year anniversary in charge in North London next month after replacing Mauricio Pochettino.
And Neville analysed how the first year has gone for the three-time Premier League winner.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville said: “I think ordinarily if a manager had been in his seat for 12 months you would be able to say if he is doing a really good job, whether he is on the right track or whether things aren’t quite right.
“But with Jose Mourinho after his first 12 months, I’m not quite sure where he is at and there are a few reasons for that.
“One, the previous manager was really successful in ‘Spurs terms’, they were successful in terms of how they performed compared to their history.
“I played against Jose Mourinho teams in the early part of his career at Porto and Chelsea, and they were the most outstanding football teams.
“The Inter Milan team was outstanding, he had success at Real Madrid winning the leagues.
“But in the last few years, he has been labelled and I think it has hurt him a little bit in that it’s a non-dominant, out-of-possession type of football.
“I think he looks happy at Spurs and there has definitely been a change this season at Spurs.”
Mourinho guided Spurs to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season despite missing key players such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min for large chunks.
However, they did go out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and were beaten by Norwich in the FA Cup.
But his side have begun the new season strongly.
After a defeat to Everton on the opening weekend, Tottenham have recorded wins over Southampton, Manchester United and Burnley, scoring 12 goals in the process.
Had they held on to leads against Newcastle and West Ham they would currently be two points clear at the top.
Asked what Mourinho has improved at Spurs this term, Neville added: “The possession is higher, there are more successful passes, more chances created in open play and the goalkeeper is playing it out from the back more.
“I always felt when I watched Spurs last season that they didn’t know how to get the ball from back to front, I always felt they struggled to understand how to play it through the midfield.
“When I watch them now, they have a much better understanding from a different coaching set-up.
“It’s probably too early to say, we have to accept what Spurs are doing, the job Jose is doing and that fact he has brought players in. I think in six months’ time, we will know a lot more.”
Gary Neville reckons the Special One has improved Spurs this season as they continued their strong startCredit: Rex Features
Mourinho had Son Heung-min to thank for grabbing the only goal of the game at SpursCredit: Reuters
Jose Mourinho urges Tottenham to tie Son Heung-Min down to new long-term contract
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
