Jeff Stelling told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports that the Tottenham fans are thinking ‘thank goodness’ Jose Mourinho is no longer in charge.
This comes after Paul Merson claimed that he was ‘shocked’ Tottenham sacked Mourinho days before their League Cup final against Manchester City.
Ryan Mason, 29, is the man tasked with trying to put a trophy in Tottenham’s cabinet for the first time in over ten years.
And following a heated exchange between Stelling and Merson about Tottenham, the Sky presenter then listed four players – Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Gareth Bale and Lucas Moura – who didn’t ‘flourish’ under Mourinho.
“If you’re a Tottenham fan then you are thinking ‘thank goodness he has gone, aren’t you?'” questioned Stelling.
“He’s got the best striker in English football. Maybe the best striker in world football.”
Merson then responds by saying: “He’s the top goalscorer.”. Stelling added: “I know! Then why are they sixth in the table?”
Merson then said: “He’s doing his job! It’s the ones who cannot keep it out of the other end. He’s the top goalscorer. What else can he do?! It’s alright saying this. I didn’t think he would score goals under Mourinho”
Stelling added: “He’s flourished under Mourinho. But who else? Not Dele Alli. Not Moura. Not Harry Winks and not Gareth Bale.”
In truth, Moura was inconsistent under Mauricio Pochettino and he transcended that under Mourinho’s stewardship.
Alli was declining and falling off a cliff way before the ex-Chelsea boss arrived, but once again, Mourinho will seemingly get the blame for these players struggles.
Whilst Mourinho and Daniel Levy need to take responsibility for the Bale signing because it hasn’t worked.
But if Mason ends up getting the best out of him during these final few weeks then it will look even worse on Mourinho.
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