The relationship between Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy and new manager Jose Mourinho will be of critical importance, according to Graham Hunter.
While each have had much success in their own rights Levy and Mourinho have very different methods, which could be a barrier for a healthy working relationship.
Speaking on Wednesday’s OTB AM, Hunter said he was intrigued to see how the two men work together towards a brighter future for Tottenham.
“I’ve found lots of reasons to be sometimes constructively critical and sometimes simply critical of Jose Mourinho’s latter-day apparitions.
“Therefore, I find it really interesting that he’s in tandem with [Daniel] Levy. Because, for a long time, Levy has done things that are truly extraordinary at Spurs.
“If we reckon back to the day [Mauricio Pochettino] signed from Southampton, think about how few people said, ‘Ah, that’s brilliant business. That’s extraordinarily perceptive to take the Southampton manager.’
“And it has proven to be,” Hunter commented.
Has Levy’s frugal nature held Tottenham back?
While Levy has had extraordinary financial success with Tottenham, one could certainly argue their ability to win trophies has suffered due to his unwillingness to spend on players.
“I would argue for quite some time that his need to squeeze every last, not only every last penny but every last drop of blood out of every single deal was beginning to be the thing that was holding Spurs back from proper triumphs.
“It’s not the only thing but it was the key strategic organisational flaw that if corrected, leaves Tottenham Hotspur in an extraordinary position,” Hunter explained.
While Mourinho’s fondness for spending massive amounts of money on players may be at odds with Levy’s frugal nature, Hunter did see reasons to be optimistic.
“Mourinho at his best adds the ruthless determination - whether it’s for his own CV, his own ego, his own salary - the ruthless determination to win above anything else.
“It’s something that will be very interesting to be mixed into that environment. Let’s see whether Levy can change an inch or two and let’s see if we see a Mourinho who’s slightly more energised.
“He looks younger, slimmer and fitter on television. It feels a little bit like Mourinho pre that horrible second spell at Chelsea and the dog days at Manchester United,” Hunter commented.
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