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Mourinho says lack of striker cost them as Tottenham's Champions League ambitions take hit

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho looked to the positives following his side's 1-1 draw with Burnle...



Mourinho says lack of striker...
Soccer

Mourinho says lack of striker cost them as Tottenham's Champions League ambitions take hit

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho looked to the positives following his side's 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor this evening.

The result, which came in the final Premier League game of the day, means Spurs are eighth in the table and their Champions League ambitions took another blow.

The visitors had to come from behind after Chris Wood put Burnly ahead in the 13th minute but then a Dele Alli penalty just after the break rescued a point. 

Mourinho was disappointed not to have gotten a win but was impressed with some of his players.

"In the second half, we improved a lot.

"I think Lucas [Moura], Lo Celso and Dele Alli gave what you saw. I was expecting players not tired to give more to the team."

19-year-old Oliver Skipp started in midfield for Spurs.

Mourinho also explained his reasoning behind this decision and his team selection as a whole, that many found unusual.

"I needed to protect Winks, he was another one that was in his limits. We managed to have [Oliver] Skipp fresh for the Tuesday match, he is a kid in evolution, I never want to criticise a kid like him.

"Dier was today much, much better playing in midfield today. The confidence levels come from the fact that he's playing so well as a center-back and that means when he's in midfield he's much more confident because his ego and his self-esteem is much higher.

"In the second half, we had a very good dynamic with Dier and Lo Celso and Lucas gave us things that we don't have.

"I think clearly we were very dominant in the second half, clearly arriving in very dangerous positions.

"We had low crosses, backcrosses. The sharks in the box would smile at them but we don't have sharks in the box but the attitude was fantastic.

"It's very difficult to play here, especially when they are in such a positive moment.

"I am not happy with the result but I am happy with many positives that I saw in my team.

"Day after day in training and in matches I make very important conclusions about my team and the future."

With Tottenham going through a striker injury crisis as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min both still out Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott did not make Mourinho's matchday squad.

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Jose Mourinho Premier League Tottenham Hotspur