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‘Can’t trust them’: Former Tottenham man pinpoints key issue for Mourinho after FA Cup exit

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
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Tottenham shipped five goals as they exited the FA Cup

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Tottenham may have played their part in a thrilling nine-goal cup tie, but Jose Mourinho will not be looking back on it fondly.

His side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton in a memorable 5-4 defeat on Wednesday night.

It was Tottenham’s fourth defeat in five matches, and Jermaine Jenas believes Mourinho simply cannot trust his team defensively.

They currently sit eighth in the Premier League, having conceded 22 goals in 22 games, and the concession of five goals in one games is at odds with Mourinho’s pragmatic reputation.

Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

Jenas, who made 202 appearances for the club after joining from Newcastle, believes the Portuguese boss paid the price for a more attack-minded approach.

Speaking on BT Sport after the match, he said: “You know what, he gets criticised, Jose Mourinho, for the way he plays a lot of the time.

“We’ve sat in here and gone ‘They need to play more expansive, they need to open up’.

“Well he’s kind of done that today, but look at the results.

“He doesn’t feel like he can trust them defensively, and when I say that I don’t mean just the back four.

“The goalkeeper’s involved in that, the midfield two, whatever it is you don’t feel like he can trust them.

Photo by Visionhaus

“That was him opening up and trying to play expressive football, because they were, I suppose, entertaining and enjoyable to watch, but they’re not going to win anything like that clearly today as we’ve seen.”

Speaking on BT Sport, Mourinho said: “Great character to fight against incredible mistakes but attacking football only wins matches when you don’t make more defensive mistakes than what you create.”

Tottenham return to league action on Saturday when they face Manchester City at the Etihad.