Paul Heckingbottom told his pre-match press conference that ‘some’ Tottenham players will be ‘more pleased’ that Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club.
The Sheffield United boss will take on Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, and just like Ryan Mason in the other dugout, Heckingbottom is also in temporary charge.
Whilst Spurs fans feel they have had a disastrous campaign, no one can light a torch on Sheffield United, who are sitting rock bottom and heading for one of the worst Premier League finishes in decades.
Nonetheless, following Mourinho’s sacking at Spurs, Heckingbottom is in ‘no doubt’ at how some players would have reacted to the trophy-laden coach’s departure.
“They will be (different) because Ryan (Mason) and Chris (Powell), will be working on different things, without a doubt,” said Heckingbottom.
“I couldn’t tell you the feel of the place or how the players are feeling. And no doubt, as it will always happen with a change of manager, some will be more pleased than others.
“And some will be disappointed. It’s something, as a manager, it happens and it’s a horrible part of the job.”
Whilst Heckingbottom has a chance of managing Sheffield United next season given they are heading back down to the Championship, the same cannot be said for Mason.
In truth, he has been put in a difficult situation because Tottenham could still easily fall out of the top-seven and end the campaign with no European football at all.
And if that were to happen then things, especially from a financial perspective, will seriously go from bad to worse.
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