Jose Mourinho
What did you make of the performance today?
I believe it was good. It was enthusiastic. Minute 35 to 46 we lost a bit of control. We dropped lines, we gave them the ball and the chance to reach our box and to have a couple of crosses and corners. Then for me the goal was a bit of a consequence of that loss of control. The first half was not bad at all but the second half was really good. To start the second half the way we did after a late goal that normally has negative consequences in the team, a bit of frustration, a lack of confidence, a bad feeling, that didn’t happen. They showed good confidence, good ambition. 2-1, go for the third and quite enthusiastic I believe. In this moments, lots of matches, even with the scores in the Premier League we can feel some teams, also us, difficult, lots of matches, lots of minutes, lots of intensity so I believe that sometimes a little bit tired. It’s always needed a little bit of fresh legs like we did with players who didn’t start the game two days ago. Easy to see that Winks, Lucas, Reggy, they were fresh. I think we did well. We deserved a good week and day off tomorrow and Thursday a crucial match, it’s knockout.
Is Harry Kane the best striker in the world right now?
I don’t want to say that because I would be quite offensive for so many top strikers there are in Europe, and the world, but he’s there with the best. I wouldn’t change him for anybody else because he means so much for us and he’s a fantastic player.
That partnership between Harry Kane and Gareth Bale has given you a new dimension, how crucial can that partnership be for the remainder of the season?
For me it’s more than their partnership. We have very good attacking players and they allow me to do what I did today, for example, which was to have a Dele Alli who played really well against Fulham to leave him out and play Lucas this time. Sonny, Gareth, Kane and then Lamela comes and comes well. Bergwijn didn’t even come and Tanguy stayed on the bench. We are a team with a lot of talent in these area. This Gareth is an extra for us. This Gareth didn’t start the season. This Gareth is playing this way for a couple of months and of course the quality is amazing. He’s a fantastic player.
How important are Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to the team and the club’s continued success?
You know Sami was speaking about Gareth and Kane, you are speaking about Kane and Son. Maybe one of your colleagues will let us speak about Lucas and Kane. We have very good attacking players and when the team is confident and when the team is in a positive moment, playing with happiness with good self-esteem, we have lots of qualities. Of course it’s a privilege to have such a very good group of players.
How many spots in the top four do you think are still up for grabs?
I don’t know and I don’t really, really think about it. I cannot control the results of other teams, I cannot control what is going to happen on West Ham vs Leeds and Chelsea vs Everton tomorrow. I cannot control. We have just to try to get the best number of points we can, try to win the most matches we can and the most number of points that is possible if possible playing well, if possible scoring goals, if possible not conceding many and try to see what can happen. I don’t forget the Europa League, I refuse to forget. I refuse just to say Thursday is not important because for me is important. The cup final is there waiting for us but still a couple of months. We just have to work, to work hard, stick together, go through the difficult moments like we did already, try to enjoy the good moments but enjoy in a soft way because we know how difficult it is going to be next. For us in the Premier League next is Arsenal away, Aston Villa away, Newcastle away. This is what is waiting for us waiting around the corner, and try to be happy when we can. Today we can after three victories in the same week. If the stats I was given are correct, 100 goals scored in the season which for a very defensive team, for a very negative team is not bad.
