SPURS fans will get their first glimpse of Jose Mourinho in the home dugout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they take on Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Lilywhites have so far had mixed fortunes in their Group B home matches this season, with the 5-0 rout of Red Star Belgrade last time out following the 7-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.
In the corresponding fixture in September, Spurs blew a 2-0 lead, infuriating Mauricio Pochettino.
Despite their patchy form, a draw would be enough for Tottenham to qualify for the round of 16 with a game to spare – unless Red Star Belgrade manage to beat Bayern Munich in the group’s other match.
Mourinho will surely want to win his first home match in charge, however, and gather some momentum after Saturday’s 3-2 win over West Ham at the London Stadium.
With Pochettino’s skipper Hugo Lloris still injured, Paulo Gazzaniga will continue between the sticks. Michel Vorm is also injured – so expect one of youngsters Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman to be on the bench.
With Jan Vertonghen back in full training, Mourinho has a big decision to make.
While it may be a tad harsh to drop Davinson Sanchez – expect the 56-year-old to opt for the experience of Vertonghen alongside Toby Alderweireld on Tuesday night.
Serge Aurier will likely continue at right-back after a good performance against West Ham.
But with Ben Davies sidelined by the injury picked up in the aftermath of the Hammers’ first goal, Danny Rose will return at left-back.
Tanguy Ndombele was unavailable for Saturday, but with his mix of powerful physique and remarkable poise on the ball, Mourinho is likely to love the Frenchman.
Expect him to return in the place of Harry Winks alongside the steel of Eric Dier.
There were encouraging signs on Saturday of the devastating creativity and pace possessed by the attacking trio of Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min.
And Mourinho will surely pick the same three again behind talisman Harry Kane up front – particularly with Erik Lamela still missing with a hamstring injury.
New signings Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso are available to make their first appearances under Mourinho – but both are more likely from the bench, where they will sit alongside previous stalwarts Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko.
Dele Alli impressed in Jose Mourinho’s first game in chargeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Mourinho praises Spurs star Dele Alli as the Special One wins his first match as Tottenham boss
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
