Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho said “We are much more focused on the now than what is next. Of course I have an idea. Of course we share our ideas. When I say ‘we’ I say myself and the structure including obviously the boss. So we know what we want, but at the same time we can all expect a strange summer. I believe that it is going to be a bit strange in the sense of a different transfer window than in previous seasons, but in this moment I don’t think it is about anyone fighting for his future. I think it is about everyone fighting for the points we need to finish the season the best that we can.”
One player constantly linked with the exit door at Tottenham is Harry Kane, but Mourinho says the striker, who has scored 27 goals and laid on 16 assists under him this season in 40 appearances – topping both the Premier League goals and assists charts – has not spoken to him about his future.
Jose Mourinho said “No. He works so well every day. He is such a professional, committed with the team, performing well,” said Mourinho. “I’ve nothing to speak with him [about]. Three years of his contract [remaining]. I have nothing to speak with him about. Unless he wants to speak with me about it and until now he never approached me in relation to anything.”
Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has also been linked with a move out of north London, with his contract reaching its final 12 months this summer. Mourinho reiterated that he is only thinking about the now and feels he has two of the best goalkeepers around.
Jose Mourinho said “You know I don’t want to offend anyone and I hope that people just accept my opinion. We have, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in England and the best English goalkeeper. So I am so happy with that that I don’t think about what can happen or not happen. Hugo has a contract, Joe has a contract. I’m so happy with both. I’m very, very happy, no problems at all, and Hugo is Hugo, he’s a very good goalkeeper. He’s our number one. It’s hard for me to say that because Joe works so, so hard and deserves more than not playing one single minute in the Premier League until now, but it’s the reality of things. I’m very happy with both of our goalkeepers.”
Mourinho was also asked whether he believes one of the priorities for him and the club is to improve the mentality of the squad at his disposal as they continue to search for their first trophy in 13 years.
Jose Mourinho said “I think sometimes people confuse a little bit the things or people don’t agree with the way I think, but for me when people speak about talent and separate talent from professionalism, commitment, ambition, I think people are wrong. For me, that is not talent and a different thing these other qualities. For me, everything is in the same package. So I believe a team needs players where the considered talent coexists with all these other ingredients, and this is what gives teams the extra potential to do big things. Of course I was very happy with the reaction. I was very happy with the reaction in the Villa game, but, I keep saying the same, you shouldn’t be reactive, you should be always at the same level. Not in terms of performance level because that depends and your opponent can be better than you and you can be in a negative way, but that package that you bring to the game has to be always there. So that’s very important. Of course it’s a priority. I believe the more players you have with this mentality, the more they can influence the group’s state of mind, the group’s soul. So of course it’s important going forward. Not just us, I believe every team, every club has to think the same way. This profile of players are very important.”
Finances are going to be tight for most clubs this summer due to the hundreds of millions lost in revenue due to empty stadiums and the TV rebate to be paid to domestic and international broadcasters. Even Pep Guardiola, with the financial power of Manchester City, admitted on Friday that his table-topping club cannot afford to buy an elite new striker this summer of the level to replace the outgoing Sergio Aguero.
