DESPITE the exceptional achievements of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, there was a feeling that things had gone stale under the Argentine.
Having won just six of their 24 Premier League games since February 10, something had to give, and the 47-year-old was relieved of his duties nine days ago.
Mourinho has changed the atmosphere at Spurs on and off the pitch
Within 11 hours, chairman Daniel Levy pounced to secure Jose Mourinho on a three-and-a-half year deal.
And Spurs have instantly reaped the rewards on the pitch, having ended their ten month wait for an away win in the league on Saturday – before sealing qualification for the Champions League round of 16 against Olympiakos on Tuesday night.
SunSport take a look at how the Special One has changed things already at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
TRAINING CHANGES
While players loved Pochettino, there was a feeling that training had become samey and repetitive – as you’d expect after a five-and-a-half years.
Without consciously turning on their manager, with whom most were still close to, players noticeably dropped their intensity in training.
This lead to increasingly poor performances come matchday, and suddenly motivation became a huge issue for Tottenham’s beleaguered stars.
A hallmark of Pochettino’s training sessions is the remarkable intensity – which when lacking motivation, can become a chore.
Mourinho has put more on an emphasis on recovery – not working his players too hard between matches.
The mood has quickly improved, with players appearing to get their edge back.
Mourinho has sought to change the mood on the training groundCredit: EPA
MAN MANAGEMENT
Much has been made of his first conversation with Dele Alli, when he asked the 23-year-old if he was “Dele or his brother”.
And the 23-year-old has responded emphatically, playing brilliantly in the 3-2 win at West Ham, before scoring against Olympiakos on Tuesday night.
There has been much debate over Alli’s form, after the England international suffered a year blighted by persistent hamstring injuries.
But Mourinho has sought to instantly put Alli at the centre of his plans, placing his trust in a player that three seasons ago scored 22 goals.
With Hugo Lloris still out injured, Harry Kane has been wearing the captain’s armband.
And his new manager has instantly made an effort to get his star man onside.
Kane is desperate to win trophies at Spurs, and Mourinho has given him assurances that he is the man to give him the platform to do so.
“Believe in me and we’ll become winners,” the Portuguese declared on his first day.
The Special One is also aiming to make key figures like Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen buy into what the club are doing again – with new contracts for the experienced pair not out of the question.
Toby Alderweireld could now perform a stunning contract U-turnCredit: AFP or licensors
MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Mourinho’s press conferences in his latter time with Manchester United had become increasingly dour and in some cases, downright bizarre.
It was against Tottenham, ironically, that he stormed out of a press conference waving three fingers at stunned reporters – demanding respect despite his side’s embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to Spurs.
The 56-year-old has clearly mellowed in his 11 months out of management, however, and has been a charming, positive influence with journalists so far.
From his Alli or Alli’s brother quip mentioned above, his joke about Sky being devastated to lose him and how he wanted to invite a smart ballboy into the dressing room to celebrate with the team – the Special One has had people hanging on his every word.
The positivity radiated by Mourinho has offered a stark contrast to the often bizarre press conferences given by Pochettino.
He often talked about potentially leaving, as well as his baffling cow and train analogy before a Champions League clash with Inter Milan last season.
Mourinho’s change of attitude has made a refreshing change.
Mourinho has charmed everyone in his press conferencesCredit: PA:Press Association
Hands on approach
Pochettino had become a surly figure on the training ground.
This eroded into the fatherly relationship he had previously shared with the players.
The Athletic even claimed that players had gotten used to saying: “Don’t look at the boss,” in case they caught his eye and got in trouble.
He had stopped taking most training sessions, instead preferring to watch on monitors.
The players noticed this lack of engagement on the training ground, and it’s hard to imagine it didn’t seep into their own application.
Mourinho, on the other hand, has impressed them with his hands on approach to sessions.
His positivity and jokes, coupled with the new voices on his coaching staff, has energised the players.
Pochettino had become an increasingly grumpy figure around Hotspur WayCredit: AFP or licensors
Streetwise
At their best under Pochettino, Spurs had developed a nasty side.
It bubbled over most famously in the stormy 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in May 2016.
But, having forever been tarnished by a reputation of having a soft underbelly, Tottenham were finally showing that they would not be pushed around.
This soft underbelly, however, has crept back in this season.
Having given up 2-0 leads in away games at Arsenal and Olympiakos – as well as collapsing in late stages of the humiliating 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, Spurs had become weak and predictable.
Having clearly given detailed instructions to everyone including the ball boys, Mourinho has shown that he will leave no stone unturned in making sure that Tottenham are as strong as possible.
With his insistence on ball boys being switched on and alert to the tempo and pattern of the game, the Special One has illustrated the standards that he will demand, for his new club to become successful.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho praises ball boy at Champions League clash against Olympiakos
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
