Tag: Tottenham Hotspur

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TOP FOUR STILL ACHIEVABLE FOR SPURS – JOSE MOURINHO

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho still believes his side can finish in the top four of the Premier League and says the current table does not mean anything.

A poor run of just three wins in the last 12 games has seen Spurs slip from the top of the table down to ninth and they are now outsiders to secure Champions League qualification.

Sunday’s visit to West Ham seems pivotal as they are six points behind the Hammers, with a game in hand and a victory will reignite their top-four hopes.

In a see-saw season, where teams have all played different amounts of games, Mourinho says anything is still possible.

“In the same way you lose three matches and you go to a bad position, you win three matches and go to a much better position,” the Portuguese said. “So like happened last season, let’s go until the end and see what the table gives us. In the end, the table always gives you what you deserve.

“It’s very premature to think about the table. People still have matches in hand. In our case, we played already two matches against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City. There are other teams that didn’t even play a second game against one of the top teams.

“We have one match in hand. I know already that because Southampton has to play the semi-finals of the FA Cup in the same week as we should play them, we’re not going to play that match.

“When are we going to play Aston Villa I don’t know. Maybe April 24, one day before the (Carabao Cup) final. Who knows? It’s very complicated.

“So we have to fight and we have to wait until the last match to see what happens. Anything can happen. We can finish top four, top six or outside the top six. We have to make sure the best possible thing is going to happen.”

Mourinho probably still has nightmares about the reverse fixture against West Ham as Spurs blew a 3-0 lead by conceding three goals in the final 10 minutes.

That draw had long-lasting consequences as Mourinho adopted a more pragmatic approach in order to ensure it did not happen again.

And the Portuguese says that match is a microcosm of their season.

“The first game against West Ham is a little bit of the reflection of our season and the reflection of some of our problems,” he said.

“If we win that game you would all say we played amazingly well, which we did, we had an incredible first half, lots of quality, lots of dominance, we played really well but we didn’t win it and this is a reflection of many of our matches.

“We played well, we should win but the final result is not a victory and the perception, which becomes the reality, you didn’t win, the result is not good, people can say the team didn’t play well.

“I think the team played so well but made mistakes and because of that we didn’t win. But my first match at West Ham when I arrived, it was a match that was not very different.

“We started very well, we dominated the game for 75 minutes, we were winning 3-0 and we conceded two goals and we finished the game looking like we were in trouble. This team many many times plays well but doesn’t get results by different reasons we don’t get it.

Mourinho should have Harry Kane available at the London Stadium after he asked to be rested for the Europa League win over Wolfsberger.

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MOURINHO STILL CONFIDENT ON HUGO LLORIS DESPITE RECENT HOWLERS

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says Hugo Lloris still has his full backing after a string of recent errors by the goalkeeper.

The France captain had enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign as Spurs rose to the top of the Premier League but has been at fault for a number of goals in recent weeks, including two in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

But Mourinho is backing the 34-year-old to come good as insists he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

“Well, when a player is a top player, it’s not because of one mistake or two or three that means he’s not a top player again,” Mourinho said.

“That’s the most important thing. I shouldn’t speak about it because he’s not my goalkeeper, but I don’t think he will take it in the wrong way.

For me Alisson is one of the top five best goalkeepers in the world and in the last couple of matches, not at Leipzig, but in the matches before he’s made big mistakes but he’s is one of the top five goalkeepers in the world.

“And Hugo is the same. He’s an amazing, amazing goalkeeper that is performing super consistently since he recovered from that fracture. Since my time here, he (Lloris) is recovering so, so well. If he had responsibility in one or another goal we conceded recently, he’s still the same goalkeeper.

“He’s my number one choice and he has all my trust and my confidence.”

Lloris is likely to make way as Spurs return to Europa League action on Thursday against Austrian side Wolfsberg, with Joe Hart expected to come into the side.

Mourinho added of the former England keeper: “In Joe Hart’s case, I’m also happy. He played already, if I’m not wrong, nine matches this season which is more, if I’m not wrong, than what he played in the previous two seasons.

“So in half of the season here I believed he played more matches than in the previous two seasons. Which is very, very good. He’s also goalkeeper I totally trust, too.”

When Spurs last played in Europe before Christmas they were top of the Premier League, but their form has nose-dived since and three wins from their last 12 games has made them outsiders to qualify for the top four.

That might make winning the Europa League their best route back into the Champions League, but Mourinho has not closed the door to a top-four finish.

“It’s difficult in any case but it’s possible in both cases. The fourth position in the Premier League is of course very difficult but is mathematically possible.

“Last season we were in a very, very bad position to try to get into the Europa League spots and in the end we made it in the last minute of the last game but we made it.

“Our motivation last season was while mathematically it’s possible we have to go. I remember we were coming from a 3-1 defeat against Sheffield and even with that result that looked crucial in that moment of the season mathematically it was possible and we chased it until the last game, which is the same thing we’re going to do.

“In the Europa League there are an incredible number of matches and we are in the 10th and not even in the last 16. Still in the last 32, so long, long competition.

“Very good teams, very good teams. You just look to the English teams in it and you see how strong the competition can be, but it’s open. We’re one of the 32 teams that has a chance to win it and we’re going to try.”

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GUNDOGAN DOUBLE HELP CITY THRASH SPURS TO GO SEVEN POINTS CLEAR

Ilkay Gundogan struck a second-half double as Premier League leaders Manchester City powered to a record-extending 16th successive win with a 3-0 success over Tottenham.

The in-form German, fresh from being named as the player of the month for January, took his goal tally for the season to 13 as he added to Rodri’s 23rd-minute penalty at the Etihad Stadium.

Gundogan was also responsible for winning the spot-kick in another outstanding display but his evening ended prematurely as he went off injured soon after his superbly taken second goal, from an Ederson pass, on 66 minutes.

The win extended City’s lead at the top of the table to seven points and their overall unbeaten run in all competitions – since losing to Spurs in November – to 23 games. Their 16-match winning run, again in all competitions, is a record for an English top-flight side.

They showed their intent early with Gabriel Jesus having two shots blocked in quick succession but Tottenham did not intend to sit deep as Tanguy Ndombele made a driving run into the hosts’ box.

Spurs went close to taking the lead when Harry Kane hit the frame of the goal from a free-kick in the 14th minute. The England captain had worryingly clutched his angle after being fouled by Aymeric Laporte but he was soon on his feet and unlucky to see his curling effort strike the top of a post.

City made the most of that reprieve to hit the front themselves after Gundogan was brought down in the area by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

A week ago Gundogan had been the designated penalty-taker himself but, after missing against Liverpool, this time he deferred to Rodri.

It looked at one point as though goalkeeper Ederson was interested in taking it as the Brazilian wandered up to the halfway line but – despite speculation he may one day get the job – his turn will have to wait. Hugo Lloris almost got a hand to it, but Rodri’s low shot found the bottom corner.

The game became niggly for a period and Jesus got involved in a running battle with Erik Lamela. Spurs boss Jose Mourinho reacted furiously when the Brazilian won what he considered a cheap free-kick from the Argentinian.

Yet City continued to pose the bigger danger and they went close again when Gundogan had a shot blocked after a good run by Raheem Sterling and Jesus hit the bar with his follow-up attempt.

Gundogan got his reward early in the second half. He put City in firm control with his first on 50 minutes after another good run by Sterling, who cut all the way through the box from the right. Gundogan took over to finish tidily with an instinctive strike inside the near post, although Lloris was beaten too easily.

Gundogan’s best was still to come with his second just after the hour. Ederson picked him out in space with a long ball over the top and Gundogan’s control was so assured that that Davinson Sanchez was completely wrongfooted and collapsed in a heap. With space to shoot, Gundogan slipped the ball past Lloris.

The downside was that Gundogan appeared to tweak a groin muscle soon afterwards and he was promptly removed.

Mourinho turned to Dele Alli, for his first Premier League appearance in two months, and Gareth Bale, after a week of uncertainty and speculation over his fitness, but the outcome was not in doubt.

Bale did however show a flash of what he can do with a jinking run into the box but Ederson parried his strike.

Sergio Aguero was unexpectedly among City’s substitutes after recovering from Covid-19 but the club’s record goalscorer was not required on this occasion

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FA CUP ROUND UP: EVERTON SEE OF TOTTENHAM IN NINE GOAL THRILLER, LEICESTER, CITY, SHEFFIELD PROGRESS

Bernard’s extra-time strike saw Everton reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a thrilling nine-goal encounter against Tottenham.

The Toffees are in the hat for the sixth round as they got the better of Jose Mourinho’s Spurs – eventually progressing 5-4 after extra-time.

England captain Harry Kane was named on the bench for the visitors at Goodison Park but came on to head Tottenham level and take the game into an additional half an hour.

Earlier, a rare Davinson Sanchez goal had put Spurs in front only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to strike inside three minutes to turn the tables.

Everton would go two goals ahead as Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty against his former club after Calvert-Lewin had been fouled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, only for Erik Lamela to reduce the arrears in first-half stoppage time.

There was plenty of drama still to come as Richarlison’s second of the night restored a two-goal margin, with Sanchez and Kane then heading home to level at 4-4.

Bernard was on hand to settle the contest with a fine finish in the first period of extra-time – Tottenham unable to fight back and slipping to defeat.

Manchester City advanced into the last eight with victory at Swansea – Pep Guardiola’s side entering the record books as they did so.

The 3-1 victory in south Wales means City have set a new record for the number of successive domestic wins by a top-flight club in England.

That run of wins extended to 15 courtesy of goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus as Swansea debutant Morgan Whittaker pulled back a late consolation.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s last-gasp winner saw Leicester progress at the expense of Brighton.

In a game of few chances, both sides saw second-half strikes ruled out for offside only for Iheanacho to head home a quickly-taken corner in the dying stages to secure a 1-0 victory for the Foxes.

Sheffield United made the quarter-finals for the second successive season as Billy Sharp’s penalty was enough to see off 10-man Bristol City.

Referee Robert Jones dismissed Alfie Mawson after viewing replays on the pitchside monitor, with the defender blocking a David McGoldrick effort with his hand.

Sharp tucked away the resulting spot-kick to give the Blades a 1-0 win over their Sky Bet Championship visitors.

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HARRY KANE RETURNS TO INSPIRE SPURS WIN OVER WESTBROM

Harry Kane highlighted his importance to Tottenham as he returned from injury and helped them stop the rot by scoring in a 2-0 win over West Brom.

Kane had missed the last two and a half games after coming off with an ankle injury at half-time against Liverpool and things could hardly have gone worse for Jose Mourinho’s men in that time as they were beaten in all three to lose ground in the race for the top four.

But the England captain made a quickfire return and put Spurs on their way against the Baggies with his 13th Premier League goal of the season, with Son Heung-min also finding the net in a much-needed win.

It is no surprise that the trusted duo of Kane and Son were the men to step up as between them they have scored 26 of their side’s 36 league goals this season and it was timely too, as it helps Spurs get back on track ahead of a big week with an FA Cup fifth round tie at Everton preceding a trip to Manchester City next weekend.

West Brom had drawn at City and Liverpool but were always hanging on here and their fight against relegation is looking a forlorn one, sitting 11 points from safety.

Spurs had been shot-shy in their previous two games without Kane, but they had a flurry of early efforts in the opening 20 minutes and could have taken a grip of the game.

Kane was the obvious catalyst and he had a number of them, but was unusually rusty in front of goal.

First he hit the stanchion after being set up by Serge Aurier and then rolled an effort wide after Tanguy Ndombele’s through-ball set him clear.

He saw another effort blocked when he might have normally scored before testing Sam Johnstone’s handling with a fierce shot at the far post.

It was a siege by the hosts and Johnstone had to make another fine save before the break to keep his side level, clawing away Aurier’s header from a corner at the far post.

In the end, Mourinho’s men almost went in at half-time trailing as a defensive slip gave West Brom their best opening. They made their way down the right and Davinson Sanchez left Mbaye Diagne unmarked, but the striker’s header was saved on the line by Hugo Lloris.

Son missed another chance within seconds of the restart as Johnstone’s feet denied him from Kane’s defence-splitting pass, but it was only a matter of time for Spurs.

The Baggies could not rely on Kane continuing to miss and so it proved in the 54th minute.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg found the striker in space with an accurate pass and Kane made no mistake with a low finish. It was his 20th goal of the season in all competitions and his 208th for Spurs, matching Bobby Smith as their all-time second-highest scorer.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Spurs hit West Brom with a devastating counter-attack.

Kane’s clever chest pass set Lucas Moura free and the Brazilian, making his first Premier League start since October, carried the ball 60 yards before teeing up Son, who smashed home to end a six-game drought.

The Baggies tried to mount a response and Diagne twice had goals ruled out for offside as Spurs ended their slide in comfortable fashion.

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JORGINHO PENALTY EARNS CHELSEA DERBY WIN AT TOTTENHAM.

Jorginho’s first-half penalty proved the difference as Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to continue their unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea controlled the early proceedings and Jorginho fired them ahead from the spot on 24 minutes, after Timo Werner had drawn a foul from Eric Dier.

After half-time, Chelsea continued to dominate as Callum Hudson-Odoi flashed a shot wide, Marcos Alonso volleyed over and Mason Mount’s strike was well saved by Hugo Lloris.

However, Spurs threw caution to the wind late on and Carlos Vinicius, on his first Premier League start, headed an inviting cross from Serge Aurier wide.

Dier then narrowly missed the target with a free-kick as Spurs failed to find a way through.

A second successive win moves Chelsea up to sixth on 36 points.

Following a third consecutive defeat Spurs lie two places back with 33.

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FA CUP: TOTTENHAM SCORE THREE LATE GOALS TO SEE OFF WYCOMBE.

Tanguy Ndombele scored twice as Tottenham needed three goals in the final five minutes to finally see off a spirited Wycombe 4-1 in the FA Cup fourth round.

Ndombele was one of four big hitters called off the bench at Adams Park as Spurs struggled to get the job done against the Sky Bet Championship strugglers playing their first game since a coronavirus outbreak.

A shock was on the cards in the first half when Fred Onyedinma put the Chairboys ahead, but Gareth Bale, playing his first 90 minutes of the season, levelled before the break.

It was one-way traffic after the break, but even Harry Kane and Son Heung-min could not make the breakthrough as Spurs’ frustration mounted.

With extra-time on the cards, Harry Winks broke Wycombe hearts with an 86th-minute curler before two Ndombele goals at the death gave Spurs a deserved win.

It means Jose Mourinho’s men, who play Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday, are still challenging on all four fronts this season and they now head to Everton in the fifth round.

For Wycombe, who ran out of steam in the second half, they can be proud of their efforts but will now focus staying in the second tier.

Mourinho named a strong team, which included Gareth Bale and this was a chance for him to show why he should be in the team more often. But he fluffed the first line when he missed a golden chance inside the opening five minutes.

Spurs forced a corner and Lucas Moura’s floated delivery landed straight on Bale’s head six yards out but the Wales international criminally headed wide.

The hosts were bright early on as Joe Hart was forced into a smart save to claw away Admiral Muskwe’s header at the near post after Curtis Thompson’s cross.

Bale was presented with another opportunity in the 14th minute, but dragged an effort wide from another good position on the edge of the area.

Those misses proved costly as Wycombe took the lead in the 25th minute.

Uche Ikpeazu got the better of Toby Alderweireld down the right and his cross was not cleared by Davinson Sanchez, who could only divert it into the path of Onyedinma to fire home.

Spurs went for a quick response and the chances continued to rack up. Japhet Tanganga headed over from a corner immediately after, Bale hit the side-netting with another good chance and then Moussa Sissoko’s deflected effort from the edge of the area cannoned into the crossbar.

Mourinho may have been fearing the worst when he saw Tanganga head another golden chance against the crossbar, but his side finally levelled in first-half stoppage time.

Lucas Moura found space on the left and Bale broke the offside trap to hook home from close range.

That ought to have been the platform for Spurs to go on and win the game comfortably in the second half but a raft of missed chances caused unnecessary stress.

Bale was again wasteful after surging into the area, Erik Lamela could not get a proper connection on his shot from a good position and fired straight at Ryan Alsopp and then Moura poked wide after finding space on the edge of the area.

Mourinho was not prepared to risk anything so sent on Kane and Son, but they too were equally wasteful.

Kane saw his shot blocked by Alsopp after miscontrolling and then Son flashed an effort wide after a trademark dart into the area..

You would have put money on Son scoring in the 80th minute but the South Korean blazed over from Sissoko’s pull-back.

It looked like extra-time would be needed before Spurs won it with a two-goal salvo in the space of 72 seconds.

After Kane spurned another chance at the far post, the ball fell to Winks 20 yards out and the midfielder sent a curling effort into the top corner to break Wycombe hearts.

Immediately from kick-off Spurs got in down the left, Son’s shot was deflected into the path of Ndombele and the Frenchman diverted into the bottom corner and he scored a second in stoppage time when he superbly cut inside and fired in at the near post.

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PSG TO DECIDE ON DELE ALLI’S SIGNING THIS WEEK.

Paris St Germain expect a decision this week on their efforts to sign Tottenham’s Dele Alli, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper report the midfielder is ready to make the loan switch with the European Championship coming up and ex-manager Mauricio Pochettino in the hotseat at the Ligue 1 club.

Derby have angered Manchester City by blocking their efforts to sign Scott Carson on a permanent deal, the Daily Mail reports. The back-up goalkeeper has spent the last two seasons on loan at the Etihad, but the Sky Bet Championship club are set to receive around £500,000 this month to cover his loan for the rest of the campaign and are unwilling to end the agreement.

Dele Alli has not been an integral part of José Mourinho’s team since the arrival of the Portuguese, and the Special One makes no secret about it.

Incessant injuries further dropped the English star down the pecking order at the London club and a move away may now be a step towards revival if the player must continue to be considered in the three lions team.

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TOTTENHAM BEAT SHEFFIELD UTD TO ENTER TOP FOUR.

Brilliant goals from Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele helped Tottenham Hotspur move up to fourth in the table with a 3-1 win at Sheffield United.

Spurs went ahead on five minutes when Serge Aurier headed in a Son Heung-min corner from close range.

Jose Mourinho’s side added a superb second goal five minutes before the break.

Kane produced an exquisite turn from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s pass before firing beyond Aaron Ramsdale from outside the penalty area for his 12th league goal of the season.

Sheff Utd responded on 59 minutes when David McGoldrick scored with a firm header from John Fleck’s excellent cross.

But any hopes of a second-half fightback were diminished by Ndombele three minutes later, when he sublimely lobbed the ball beyond Ramsdale from an acute angle after a dinked through-ball by Steven Bergwijn.

Spurs move ahead of Manchester City, who have two matches in hand, on 33 points. Sheff Utd remain bottom, 11 points from safety.

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CAVALEIRO’S SECOND HALF HEADER EARNS FULHAM A POINT AT TOTTENHAM.

Ivan Cavaleiro’s towering header salvaged a point for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur in an entertaining 1-1 draw in north London.

Spurs took the lead on 25 minutes when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg arrowed a fine pass to Sergio Reguilon, who in turn picked out Harry Kane with a pinpoint cross that the striker met with a diving header.

Son Heung-min also brought a good close-range save from Alphonse Areola, while Kane sent another header over the crossbar.

Fulham also showed plenty of threat, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa denied by Hugo Lloris and Ruben Loftus-Cheek hooking an effort just wide.

After the break Son raced clear but his low strike hit the post on 71 minutes.

Three minutes later, substitute Ademola Lookman found space for a brilliant cross, and Cavaleiro did the rest with a bullet header.

More fine work by Lookman soon teed up Loftus-Cheek, but Lloris was alive to the danger.

In the final minute, Reguilon had the ball in the net for Spurs, but his effort was ruled out for offside and Fulham secured their fifth consecutive Premier League draw.

Spurs are sixth on 30 points, while Fulham lie 18th on 12 points.