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TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho has rejected claims his team were ‘Spursy’ in their 3-3 home draw with West Ham.
His team were coasting 3-0 and seemingly on course for another three points thanks to a double for Harry Kane and a Son Heung-Min strike.

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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has rejected the ‘Spursy’ lineCredit: Rex Features

But the Hammers fought back brilliantly with the comeback completed when Manuel Lanzini lashed home a spectacular 25-yard strike to seal a point.
It led to many rival fans to scoff at Tottenham being ‘Spursy’ – a term used to describe when the Londoners get close to silverware or victory but ultimately fall flat.
Speaking ahead of his team’s Europa League game against LASK Linz, Mourinho said: “I believe that winning 3-0 in minute 80, we can play 50 more matches and it’s not going to happen again, so I don’t want to be sticking on this.
“No stories about ‘Spursy’ and this kind of thing. We just need to defend better from set pieces.”

West Ham got back in the game eight minutes from time when defender Fabio Balbuena headed past Hugo Lloris.
Then three minutes later Davinson Sanchez headed past his own keeper to make it 3-2, and of course Lanzini went on to be his side’s hero.
But Mourinho didn’t seem too donwcast about Davinson.
He joked: “The only player I can confirm is starting is Davinson Sanchez, who will be at the press conference.

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Davinson Sanchez headed past his own keeper during the 3-3 draw with West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“The only thing I ask is that you don’t ask him about his amazing goal on Sunday.”
Speaking previously about that game, Mourinho blasted his Spurs stars for not being strong enough ‘psychologically’ to cope with West Ham.
Asked what the heck went wrong, Mourinho said: “Football. Of course I have to analyse the second half and have to do it internally, but for you I prefer to say football happened, and praise West Ham’s belief.
“It is not easy to be losing 3-0 and be dominated, to keep the belief.
“I knew they are a different team to last season, but to lose an advantage of three goals is a big punishment and eventually deserved.
“The game was under control, we had Harry Kane to score the fourth when he hit the post, Gareth Bale to kill the game.
“The game was more to the fourth goal, but that’s football.”

Jose Mourinho admits himself and players are frustrated after West Ham draw More

GARETH BALE is back at Tottenham – and ten years ago today he enjoyed a stunning night under the lights with Spurs.
The Welsh winger smashed an incredible hat-trick in a Champions League clash against Inter Milan.

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However, despite the one-man show, Spurs still fell to a 4-3 defeat.
Inter were seemingly home and hosed at 4-0 up, with Spurs reeling after keeper Heurelho Gomes was sent off.
But Bale had other ideas. His first came after a 50-yard run before firing past Julio Cesar in goal.
His second was almost a carbon copy, that time leaving veteran Javier Zanetti toiling behind, before he later slammed home a powerful third.

After a trophy-laden spell in Spain with Real Madrid, Bale is now back in North London, but what happened to his team-mates that night in Italy? SunSport finds out…

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Gareth Bale is back at Spurs and hoping to dazzle in the Premier League againCredit: AFP or licensors
GK – Heurelho Gomes
The Brazilian retired in the summer after Watford were relegated to the Championship.
His time at Spurs was lathered were clangers in goal – and of course he was sent-off that breathtaking night in Milan back in 2010.
But the 39-year-old will be remembered as a cult hero at Watford, and was in floods of tears when he realised it was time to say goodbye.

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Heurelho Gomes retired after Watford were relegated last seasonCredit: AFP

RB – Alan Hutton
Probably didn’t get the credit he deserved throughout his career. Hutton was the original roving full-back.
Nicknamed the ‘Scottish Cafu’, Hutton retired aged 35 in February with his last club being Aston Villa.

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Alan Hutton coined the nickname the ‘Scottish Cafu’ after the brilliant Brazilian right-backCredit: PA:Press Association
LB – Benoit Assou-Ekotto
The 36-year-old Cameroonian was as honest as they come, once admitting he didn’t like football and was only in the game for the money.
At his best he was a decent attacking option from the back. At his worst he mistimed tackles and lacked positional awareness.

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Benoit Assou-Ekotto admitted he was only in football for the moneyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
CB – Sebastien Bassong
Bassong played for SIX English clubs – the last being his one-game spell with Peterborough United.
Most of his club appearances came with Norwich City, where he showed at times the potential that earmarked him as a future star when Newcastle brought him over in 2008.
Although not officially retired, the 34-year-old hasn’t played since three appearances for Greek minnows Volos in 2019.

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Sebastienn Bassong played for six clubs in EnglandCredit: PA:Empics Sport
CB – William Gallas
The 43-year-old hung up his boots in 2014 after winding down over in Australia with Perth Glory.
The Frenchman could be erratic, but on his day was a valuable asset, as Chelsea, Arsenal and then Spurs found.

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William Gallas played for three London clubs in his time in EnglandCredit: PA:Empics Sport
CM – Tom Huddlestone
Huddlestone, still only 33, was released by his very first club Derby County in the summer, and has been linked with a move back to Hull.
A class midfielder in his time with Spurs, he perhaps lacked the mobility to become a great – but did manage to bag four caps for England.

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Huddlestone is without a club at the moment, but not officially retiredCredit: PA:Empics Sport
CM – Jermaine Jenas
The 37-year-old is now impressing with his punditry skills on Match Of The Day and other BBC football programming.
Like Huddlestone, Jenas was a classy midfielder and made 21 appearances for England.

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Jermaine Jenas, like team-mate Peter Crouch, is proving to be a big hit on the tellyCredit: PA:Press Association
AM – Luka Modric
The attacking midfielder is still at the top of his game with Real Madrid and Croatia.
Now 35, Modric can still thread that killer ball through. In his prime he was one of the very best in the world and thrived with Los Blancos.
He was as a key player in four Champions League wins and also bagged football’s top individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, in 2018.

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Luka Modric is still impressing in LaLiga with Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
RW – Aaron Lennon
Leeds-born Lennon is now plying his trade with Turkish club Kayserispor after leaving Burnley on a free at the end of last season.
A tricky winger, Lennon, 33, made 21 appearances for England and seemed to shun the limelight in his time in football.

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Aaron Lennon is now plying his trade out in TurkeyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
LW – Gareth Bale
The Welsh wizard, 31, is back – although perhaps not the force of old.
Bombed out at Real Madrid, Spurs fans will be desperate to see Bale reach previous heights. If he does a front three of him with Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min is mouthwatering.

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Gareth Bale will be hoping to perform like he did for Spurs all those years agoCredit: Action Images – Reuters
ST – Peter Crouch
Who knew Crouchy was so funny?!
The beanpole striker is now 39 and retired after leaving Burnley in 2019.
Crouch has reinvented himself as a TV comic, presenter and podcaster after hanging up his boots.

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Peter Crouch is doing great things on TV after hanging up his bootsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Subs Used
GK – Carlo Cudicini
Brought on for Modric when Gomes was sent off after just eight minutes, Cudicini should be viewed as not just a decent second-choice stopper.
CM – Wilosn Palacios
One of Honduras’ best-ever exports, Palacios was impressive for Wigan in their Prem days that got Spurs interested.
However, he didn’t really affect games during his time at White Hart Lane. He last played for Olimpia in Paraguay in 2018.
ST – Robbie Keane
The most capped and record goalscorer for the Republic of Ireland, Keane scored goals wherever he went and was lethal in the box.
Retired from football with 393 career goals after a brief spell in India in 2018.
Manager – Harry Redknapp
One of the most likeable characters in the Beautiful Game, Redknapp, 74, is now enjoying retirement with his wife Sandra in Sandbanks.
Will have one big regret from his football career however – that he never managed England.

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Harry Redknapp is one of the popular faces of football and is enjoying his retirementCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Gareth Bale is on the ball in Spurs training More

A HILARIOUS heatmap showing Eric Dier’s toilet break is doing the rounds on social media.
With 15 minutes to play – and Spurs trailing 1-0 – the England man charged off the pitch.

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This modified heat map for Dier’s toilet run has been shared on social mediaCredit: Social media

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Credit: Sky Sports

Many onlookers believed Dier was simply being subbed – until Mourinho was seen chasing after him.
The Spurs defender emerged from the tunnel moments later.
Reports from the ground later claimed Dier had dashed off to use the toilet.
That was later confirmed by Mourinho and Dier – who shared a picture of the Man of the Match award sitting on the toilet in a cheeky Instagram post after the game.

And the modified heatmap that has been shared on Twitter shows one of the key moments from the Carabao Cup clash – Dier’s toilet dash.
After winning 5-4 on penalties following Mason Mount’s miss, Mourinho explained the drama – slamming football’s authorities for making stars play twice in 48 hours.
He claimed: “The problem is this was not a pee.
“What happened to Eric Dier is not normal… I have to praise him in a special way.

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Jose Mourinho raced down the tunnel after his player Eric Dier

“It should be forbidden for a player to play two games in 48 hours at this level. What he did is not human to do.
“He had to go [when he ran off] – he had no chance.
“Maybe it is a normal thing when you are completely dehydrated which is the case, I had to put pressure on him to get back but he is a great example for everybody.
“If the authorities don’t care about players, I care.
“Of course he is not playing Thursday [in the Europa League against Maccabi Haifa] because I would definitely kill him.”
MAN OF THE MATCH
And Dier added: “After playing on Sunday it wasn’t easy, maybe that’s the reason I had to run off but we got through it!
“All of the staff and the players put the effort in.
“Jose wasn’t happy but there was nothing I could do about it, nature was calling.
“I heard there was a chance while I was off the pitch but thankfully they didn’t score.”
Mourinho later took to Instagram – with a picture of Dier and his Man of the Match award – to share his ‘pride’ at his players for battling through two games in 48 hours.
He captioned the photo: “Proud of all my players but this one led by example. 180 minutes in 48 hours @ericdier15.”
It’s not the first time the Spurs star has darted off the pitch during a cup game.
In fact, in Dier’s last domestic cup outing – the FA Cup penalty shootout defeat by Norwich, he charged into the stands to confront a fan.
He was charged by the FA for leaping over the advertising hoardings and racing up the West Stand to protect younger brother, Patrick.

Mourinho comments on Eric Dier running down Tottenham tunnel for toilet break during clash against Chelsea More