Opinion: Our second away win under Mourinho, it can only get better

Since Mourinho came to our club, he has managed to stop or nearly stop our miserable decline (but he is […]

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Since Mourinho came to our club, he has managed to stop or nearly stop our miserable decline (but he is getting there).

We have had seven games under him. Including two Champions League games, one of them (Bayern Munich) was basically a non-game as we were already through to the next stage (and that will be against RB Leipzig). We’ve beaten West Ham (away), Olympiacos, Bournemouth and Wolves (away). The only league team to beat Mourinho’s side was United away.  So not a bad record from a man who has inherited a team from Pochettino and hasn’t been able to purchase his own players yet.

Next up will be Chelsea, Mourinho’s old team. To beat them will mean that we leapfrog them into fourth (fingers crossed). Before he came to the club, we were looking at a dismal season with the possibility of a relegation dog fight. Now we are talking trophies and a continuation of a Champions League top spot. Hurray (again, keep our fingers crossed)!

Our game against Wolves was no pushover. They planned to fight us all the way and did exactly that. To be honest the match could have gone either way, fortunately for us, it went our way. We’ve shown that bit extra grit that has been lacking for over season for us, under Pochettino.

On the subject of Pochettino; where are all those clubs that were interested in him? Or have they sussed out, what we finally did? That when things start going wrong, he begins to lose it. Anyway, we are not here to talk about our Ex’s. No, we are here to talk about our game at Molineux.

Mourinho made clear his belief that Spurs will qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League. That is what I like, optimism and a clear road ahead. Contrast that with Pochettino’s ranting (at least near the end).

After allowing Wolves to equalise, Vertonghen became our hero of the night. His late header has suddenly turned that into a very realistic prospect (finishing in the top four), with us set to welcome the Chelsea – who slumped to their fourth league defeat in five against Bournemouth on Saturday – to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this coming weekend.

Aiming for a fifth consecutive top-four finish, we have reduced an 11-point gap with four wins from five league games since Mourinho’s appointment.

We made a purposeful start as “Nice-One-Son” saw an attempt stopped by Rui Patricio, but it did not take long for our early eagerness to pay off as Moura’s fast feet and durable finish stunned the Wolves pack.

A second goal always appeared crucial for Mourinho’s side, who had conceded at least two goals in five of our six games under him prior to kick-off, as Wolves dominated in possession and territory.

At the back at times we were unconvincing. Still, we weathered the storm and allowed for counter opportunities – but Dier was unable to provide the finish that Alli’s inspiring pass over the Wolves defence deserved.

However, Traore’s equaliser came as no surprise as they kept battling for that goal.

What will pleasure coach and fans alike, however, was the determined manner of our response to conceding, and a confidence-boosting late winner that puts our top-four hopes firmly in our own hands.

Before the transfer window opens we face Chelsea (home), Brighton (home), Norwich (away) and then Southampton (away), which will be on the 1^st January. Will the beginning of the new year bring us the players we want (to fill the gaps that badly need filling)? I suppose it all boils down to what is available.

But as I have said in numerous articles, the future looks brighter than it did under Pochettino. Mourinho, THE MAN, has won silverware at every club he has managed. Come On You Spurs!

Before I depart from you (or is that you from me?), I always like to look at some stats, as I am sure you, the reader enjoys reading them (providing they are in our favour!).

We have won two of our three Premier League away games under Jose Mourinho, as many as we did in Mauricio Pochettino’s final 14 away from home in the league. OK, sorry for rubbing it in, but we deserve something positive from previous uncertainties. To be honest, and I am not the only one, it has been a while since I’ve been smiling and optimistic where Spurs are concerned. And to put an extra smile on my face, there is Arsenal. Isn’t it nice to see our neighbours doing so well? Let us wish them luck and hope they give Freddie Ljungberg the job, he deserves it, in fact, they – Arsenal – deserve it. Their last three games finished in defeat… It couldn’t happen to a better team… but we are not here to gloat… well, maybe a little… but back to statistics.

Since a 3-1 defeat as Chelsea boss in October 2015, Mourinho has not lost any of his last 54 Premier League games when his side has scored the opening goal. A good omen. And may that continue.

As for Lucas Moura, well he has scored three goals in five Premier League appearances under Mourinho after managing only one in 10 games under Pochettino earlier this season. But to be fair, he never seemed to be a Pochettino favourite. Maybe that was his downfall, favouritisms.

Our superman Jan Vertonghen scored Tottenham’s first 90th-minute winner in the Premier League since Harry Winks against Fulham in January.

I hoped that has warmed you up before Christmas? And there should be more to come.

So, that is it. Enjoy your day and let us look forward to a bright and optimistic second half of this season. We’ve got Mourinho, and he is magic, you know! Yes, he will win us trophies.

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