JOSE MOURINHO needs to find the new Christian Eriksen to unlock a trophy-winning team at Tottenham.
That’s the expert view of Spurs legend and former boss Glenn Hoddle, who is launching his own podcast this weekend to coincide with the return of the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho needs to replace Christian Eriksen to bring trophies to SpursCredit: AFP or licensors
That is the view of club legend Glenn HoddleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Hoddle also believes Spurs need to sign a centre-half and left-back to complete a squad to make them capable of challenging for honours.
Hoddle is sure Mourinho has his eye on winning the Europa League or the FA Cup in a season that ends in ‘1’, traditionally a year in which Spurs deliver trophies.
But it has been 12 long years since their last piece of silverware — and nearly 60 years since they won the league title in 1961.
Hoddle said: “Yes, Spurs can win a trophy at long last but it is by no means a given, as there are six or seven clubs with chances of winning one of the cups this season.
“And I’d put Spurs’ opening opponents Everton as one of those.
“The only blemish of Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Spurs was that he should have taken the FA Cup more seriously.
“It should have been a major priority. Success breeds success and Spurs just needed to get one trophy over the line to give the entire squad a lift and ease the pressure about not winning trophies.
“Jose is a serial trophy winner and he is building a squad capable of winning one — but while they have strikers who are exciting and will score plenty of goals, they need a creative spark in the centre of midfield.
“Jose has to get Dele Alli back to his best and has to get Lucas Moura consistently producing.
“I don’t think he has the player yet for that vital central midfield role. I don’t see Giovani Lo Celso playing that 360 degrees in midfield. He is best wide.
“Harry Winks is the best option but Eriksen was that player. Not when he first arrived, not for the final 18 months, but for two or three years in between he was the creative genius.
“He could lay set-plays on a plate. He could get the best out of Alli and Harry Kane, providing them both with plenty of chances, opening teams up with that spark.
“With the need for a centre-half and a left-back there are holes in the squad to be filled.
“For a time Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were ahead of anything in the Premier League — and that included City and United and Liverpool until Virgil van Dijk arrived.
“They were the best unit and with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker flying, that was a sound base — but they need to be replaced.
“The keeper has a little bit to prove this season, so too does Lucas Moura.
“Son Heung-min took time to settle and Moura has had that time now, so he is under pressure to perform. But there is no doubt Spurs have the firepower with Steven Bergwijn looking promising, Kane, Alli, Son and Moura.
“As for Spurs’ opponents on Saturday, it’s an exciting time for Everton fans with some of the buys brought in.
“I’d fancy Everton more if they were at home, despite no fans. But, on balance, I’d make Spurs favourites for this one, as it might be four, five or six games further down the line before we see the best of this new, exciting Everton team brought together by Carlo Ancelotti.”
The brand new Glenn Hoddle Footy Show podcast is out on Sunday evening.
Jose Mourinho tells Dele Alli he is ‘f***ing lazy’ in All or Nothing Tottenham doc
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
