Former Arsenal star Paul Merson reckons Jose Mourinho is already regretting becoming Tottenham’s manager.
The ex-Gunners and England midfielder says Mourinho has not improved Spurs since taking over from sacked Mauricio Pochettino in November.
And after Jan Vertonghen’s devastated reaction to being hauled off by Mourinho during Tottenham’s FA Cup replay win over Southampton, Merson says the manager’s time at the club looks set to be a repeat of his doomed spell as Manchester United boss.
He doubts Mourinho will get Spurs back into the Premier League’s coveted top four this season as they bid to qualify for next term’s Champions League.
And he points to Tottenham’s failure to buy a striker in the January transfer window as evidence that Mourinho has been brought in as a short-term fix and the club aren’t prepared to back the manager in the longer term.
(Image: REUTERS)
“Jose Mourinho has not improved Tottenham and after Jan Vertonghen’s strop it looks like Manchester United all over again,” said Merson, writing in his column for the Daily Star.
“I said when he went there it would give them a lift and there would be a charm offensive – and he was all smiles for a while.
“But everyone knew it wouldn’t last, didn’t they? He’s gone back to being Grumpy Mourinho again. And I don’t see how he’s improved them at all. Not one bit.
“He looks like he’s thinking: ‘What have I done coming here?’ You don’t see him high-fiving ball boys now do you?”
(Image: Getty Images)
Merson says Mourinho was hired specifically to get Tottenham back into the Premier League’s top four – but reckons he faces an uphill task to achieve that with fourth-placed Chelsea still four points ahead.
“Spurs are a million miles away at the moment and they don’t have much money to spend. They didn’t buy him a striker and they won’t be breaking the bank in the next few windows either.
“Mourinho is only there to get them into the top four. I can’t see Daniel Levy wanting to win the FA Cup but not get back into the Champions League.
“But it’s not really working, is it? Chelsea are in the driving seat to finish fourth and I can’t see Spurs catching them right now.”
