West Ham star reveals key Tottenham change under Mourinho Michail Antonio has claimed that Tottenham under Jose Mourinho are no longer the “free-flowing” force they once were. Antonio’s West Ham travel across London on Tuesday to face Tottenham in their second game since the Premier League re-start. Spurs returned with a draw against Manchester United, and Antonio believes that match showed how their opponents have changed under Jose Mourinho. Mourinho took over from Mauricio Pochettino back in November, bringing an approach that is seen by many as more negative. And West Ham midfielder Antonio thinks that came to the fore when Mourinho faced his former side last week. Antonio told Sky Sports News of how Spurs have changed: “One thing I’ve noticed is that they’re not that free-flowing, attacking team that they used to be. “They kind of sat back quite a bit and played more on the counter.” Antonio is also not concerned by the prospect of facing Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. The pair had been injured before the break, but returned to the starting lineup when Spurs faced United on Friday. However, Antonio insists West Ham would be wrong to just focus on those players. “Harry Kane and Son [Heung-Min] are quality players,” he added. “I feel like every team has those quality players, so we can’t really concentrate on them being back. “We’ve just got to be able to deal with it on the day.” MOURINHO DEFENDS RECORD WITH STRIKERS Mourinho made a point of dismissing criticism of his approach in his pre-match press conference. Calling out claims from Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson that Kane may suffer as a result of his tactics, the Portuguese tactician listed several great strikers he has brought the best out of. “The record of goals that Harry has for me is easy for me,” Mourinho said. “Go to your data and it’s easy to see how many matches he played with me and how many goals he scored before his injury. “I had a few strikers that played for me and they’re not bad. I have a guy called [Didier] Drogba, he played for me four seasons, he scored 186 goals – an average [of] 46 goals per season. “I had another guy who is also not bad, plays for Juventus now [Ronaldo]. He played for me three seasons, he scored 186 goals, which gives an average of 56 goals per season. “I had another guy who is also not bad, called Karim Benzema. He played for me three seasons, he was not always starting because he was quite young at the time, he scored 78 goals in three seasons, which gives a 26-goal average per season. “I had another called [Diego] Milito, he played one season, he scored 30 goals, won three titles. “I had another guy, he played for one-and-a-half seasons, in the other half he had a big injury. A tall guy called Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. He scored 58 goals, which gives a 29 average per season. “So dear Paul, I have lots of respect for you. I think Harry Kane has no problem at all to score goals in my teams, especially when he’s fit and fresh and has routines of playing. “That’s my message to somebody I have lots of respect for.” The post West Ham star reveals key Tottenham change under Mourinho appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Michail Antonio has claimed that Tottenham under Jose Mourinho are no longer the “free-flowing” force they once were.

Antonio’s West Ham travel across London on Tuesday to face Tottenham in their second game since the Premier League re-start. Spurs returned with a draw against Manchester United, and Antonio believes that match showed how their opponents have changed under Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho took over from Mauricio Pochettino back in November, bringing an approach that is seen by many as more negative.

And West Ham midfielder Antonio thinks that came to the fore when Mourinho faced his former side last week.

Antonio told Sky Sports News of how Spurs have changed: “One thing I’ve noticed is that they’re not that free-flowing, attacking team that they used to be.

“They kind of sat back quite a bit and played more on the counter.”

Antonio is also not concerned by the prospect of facing Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. The pair had been injured before the break, but returned to the starting lineup when Spurs faced United on Friday.

However, Antonio insists West Ham would be wrong to just focus on those players.

“Harry Kane and Son [Heung-Min] are quality players,” he added. “I feel like every team has those quality players, so we can’t really concentrate on them being back.

“We’ve just got to be able to deal with it on the day.”

 

 

MOURINHO DEFENDS RECORD WITH STRIKERS

Mourinho made a point of dismissing criticism of his approach in his pre-match press conference. Calling out claims from Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson that Kane may suffer as a result of his tactics, the Portuguese tactician listed several great strikers he has brought the best out of.

“The record of goals that Harry has for me is easy for me,” Mourinho said. “Go to your data and it’s easy to see how many matches he played with me and how many goals he scored before his injury.

“I had a few strikers that played for me and they’re not bad. I have a guy called [Didier] Drogba, he played for me four seasons, he scored 186 goals – an average [of] 46 goals per season.

“I had another guy who is also not bad, plays for Juventus now [Ronaldo]. He played for me three seasons, he scored 186 goals, which gives an average of 56 goals per season.

“I had another guy who is also not bad, called Karim Benzema. He played for me three seasons, he was not always starting because he was quite young at the time, he scored 78 goals in three seasons, which gives a 26-goal average per season.

“I had another called [Diego] Milito, he played one season, he scored 30 goals, won three titles.

“I had another guy, he played for one-and-a-half seasons, in the other half he had a big injury. A tall guy called Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. He scored 58 goals, which gives a 29 average per season.

“So dear Paul, I have lots of respect for you. I think Harry Kane has no problem at all to score goals in my teams, especially when he’s fit and fresh and has routines of playing.

“That’s my message to somebody I have lots of respect for.”

 

The post West Ham star reveals key Tottenham change under Mourinho appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Samuel Bannister