Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

10:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement

Sport

'They've got the right man' | Souness backs Mourinho at Spurs

Graeme Souness is confident that Jose Mourinho is the right man to manage Tottenham Hotspur after...



Graeme Souness is confident that Jose Mourinho is the right man to manage Tottenham Hotspur after sacking Mauricio Pochettino.

There were worrying signs for Spurs early on in their game against Olympiakos in the Champions League after going 2-0 down in the opening 20 minutes.

However, Mourinho’s side responded strongly and ended up winning the game 4-2, making it two wins on the trot for Tottenham.

While the Liverpool legend understands why fans were fond of Mauricio Pochettino, he believes it was time for him to be replaced.

“He took them to Champions League football and got them to the final last year. But he still couldn’t come up with any silverware for them.

“They needed to change and I think they’ve changed and got the right man. This is not born out of my newfound friendship with him.

“Deservedly so [I criticised him] for his time at Manchester United. It fell apart. He would be the first to hold his hands up. He made mistakes and I think he’s referred to that today.

“He spent 350 million quid and it’s hard to look at Man United now and think where that kind of money was spent. He’s walked into a very good job. He’s tinkering as opposed to wholesale changes this time around.

“I think he’ll do a good job there because he has won big trophies in the past. He knows his way around this competition and I think Spurs have been underperforming for a good 12 months,” Souness commented.

While the former Scotland international didn’t say things were sure to end well between Mourinho and Spurs, he thinks he is currently the right man for the job.

“I think when you look at what else was out there, yeah you could search and try to find someone who’s up and coming. Someone with a wee bit of success but they’ve got a serial winner in Jose.

“ And yet, will we be sitting here in two years thinking it’s all the same story again? Possibly. But I think it will be an interesting ride for Spurs supporters,” Souness said.

Virgin Media Sport has over 400 UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Nations League games live this season, and is available to all Virgin Media TV customers who can also download the TV Anywhere App and stream all the action whenever and wherever they like.


Read more about

Champions League Graeme Souness Jose Mourinho Tottenham Virgin Media