Jose Mourinho has claimed that the ‘very, very young’ players in Tottenham’s academy are the ‘biggest talents’ and not the older players, as he told his pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s FA Cup tie.
Players such as Gedson Fernandes and Paulo Gazzaniga were left out of Tottenham’s Europa League squad in October because Spurs would have gone over their foreign limit had they been included.
There has been a lot of talk about Tottenham needing more home-grown talent in their squad, hence one of the reasons they signed Joe Hart in the summer.
That’s why talk stemmed around Tottenham’s academy during Mourinho’s press conference and English players.
“How can you have more English players,” asked Mourinho. “English players from the academy. You have to try and help the academy but, at the same time, you depend on their work, their generation and on their talent.
“And, honestly, I don’t know if I should say it or not, but the players that I feel are more talented in the academy are not the eldest ones. They are very young. We are speaking about kids of 16-years-old.
“We are not speaking about kids of 18 or 19, let’s say a man that just need a last push. I think the biggest talents are very, very young. Of course, we have to help in their development in calibration with their academy.”
Japhet Tanganga has perhaps been the academy player who has been most frequently picked by Mourinho and if it wasn’t for his injuries he would have probably earned more game time.
The likes of Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Harry Winks are prime examples that the club have talent in their ranks and players to look up to.
But when Mourinho has a job for here and now, in delivering a trophy, then it’s difficult trying to progress youngsters along the way.
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