Jose Mourinho has told BBC Sport that he ‘spent a few good minutes’ telling the Tottenham players that if they provide Crystal Palace with the chance ‘to put balls into the box’ then that is the ‘line between victory and draw’.
Despite Mourinho’s wise-words during the break, the Tottenham players didn’t take his comments on board as they conceded in a soft manner following a ball into the box from a set-piece situation nine minutes from time.
Tottenham should have secured three points in the end, only for Crystal Palace’s man between the sticks transforming from an error-prone keeper in the first-half to superman heroics in the second.
After the game, Mourinho shared what he told his Tottenham players during their half-time break, as they failed to open up a lead at the top of the Premier League table.
“At half-time, I spent a few good minutes telling them what could happen in the second half,” said Mourinho. “These guys, to control the game [against Palace] you need the ball.
“If you give them the chance to put balls into the box, you put yourself in the line between victory and draw.”
Now, Spurs face their biggest test of the season because they take on the champions of England and second-placed Liverpool at Anfield.
This is what Mourinho has been brought in for, and thus far, he has proven to showcase his worth during these types of pressure-cooker matches – Chelsea [twice], Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are proof of that.
But there’s no doubt that Jurgen Klopp’s side are the biggest fish of them all and if they can end Liverpool’s three-season unbeaten home record on Wednesday then it would definitely be the biggest statement of the season.
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