Humble Mourinho not planning on big changes at Spurs

Jose Mourinho ruled out wholesale changes as he bids to put Tottenham back to winning ways and admitted he is humbled enough to have learned lessons from his failed campaign at Manchester United.

Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs new boss after the latter was sacked following a dismal campaign after being at the helm of affairs for five years.

The Portuguese coach have an impressive CV that reflects his trophy-laden career, with clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and United.

However, his time in charge at Old Trafford ended in the sack 11 months ago having failed to win the league at a club for the first time since he left Portuguese minnows Leiria to join Porto in 2002.

“I am humble enough to try to analyse my career. Not just the last year, my career, the evolution, the problems, the solutions,” said Mourinho in his first press conference as Tottenham boss on Thursday.

“I was humble enough to do that. The principle of the analysis was not to blame anyone else.”

Pochettino was let go less than six months after reaching the club’s first ever Champions League final, but results domestically have been on the slide for nearly a year.

The Argentine had been keen for a bigger turnover of his squad in recent seasons to prevent his time in charge from growing stale. However, Mourinho insisted he will not demand millions to spend in the transfer market.

“The potential of the club is huge, the potential of the players is great,” added Mourinho.

“I don’t need players, I am so happy with the players I have, I just need time to understand them better, to know everything about them.

“My gift is this squad, the squad is very, very good.

“One of the reasons I decided to come was them. I tried to buy some of them for different clubs, I couldn’t. Some of them I didn’t even try because you know how impossible it is.”

A return of just three wins from their opening 12 Premier League games leaves Tottenham already playing catch up to qualify for the Champions League next season, 11 points adrift of the top four, and already 20 behind league leaders Liverpool.

Under Pochettino, Tottenham made huge progress to become Champions League regulars and compete at the upper echelons of the league, but failed to win a trophy.

Mourinho, though, believes they are capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season.

“We cannot win the Premier League this season. I’m not saying we will do, but we can win it next season,” he added.

“If we win titles it will be not the consequence of me, but of the club’s work, this is a package.”

Mourinho promised “real passion” following his appointment. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager was announced as the new boss at White Hart Lane hours after the Argentine was dismissed on Tuesday evening.

“I couldn’t be happier and look forward to the challenge,” Mourinho told Tottenham’s official website.

“What can I promise? Passion, real passion. Passion for my job, but also passion for my club, that’s the way I have been all my career.”

The 56-year-old, who had been out of work since leaving United last December, signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season after Spurs acted to halt their slide down the table.

The club reached the Champions League final last season but are languishing in 14th spot in the Premier League after picking up just three wins from 12 games. They are 11 points off the top four positions which allow qualification to European club football’s top competition.

“I want to try, obviously, everything to bring happiness to everyone who loves the club,” added the new manager, who has won domestic league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

Mourinho was due to take training on Wednesday before his first press conference on Thursday. His first game in charge is at West Ham on Saturday.

His glittering CV includes Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan.

He also won three Premier League titles over two spells in charge of Chelsea, and returned to England to manage Manchester United in 2016, where he won the Europa League and the League Cup.

“In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football,” said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

“He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”

Mourinho was sacked by United last December and has been without a club since, most recently working as a TV pundit.

Agencies