Jose Mourinho has been warned that he’s under ‘severe pressure’ if he fails to deliver a Europa League title for Tottenham Hotspur this season.
Spurs cruised into the last 16 of the competition by beating Wolfsberger 8-1 over two legs this week, ultimately setting up a tie with Dinamo Zagreb next month.
It looks increasingly likely that Tottenham will have to go all the way in this competition if they’re going to reach the Champions League in time for next season.
Mourinho’s side are ninth in the Premier League and nine points behind fourth-placed West Ham United.
And Craig Burley, speaking to ESPN, has claimed that the ‘pretty rotten’ domestic performances, coupled with a league position that ‘stinks’, means that the veteran Portuguese coach simply has to win this competition for the Lilywhites.
He said: “I personally think Jose Mourinho needs to win this the most. He’s the man under the most pressure. His league position at the moment stinks. The team’s performances have been pretty rotten, in terms of on the eye. And they’re a country mile off the top four.
“At one point the talk was whether this team was in the title race, and so he needs to deliver something or he’s under severe pressure.”
Mourinho’s side host Burnley in North London today in what should represent three points.
But Burley is right – their Premier League form has been horrendous since before Christmas and they’ve only won three times in this competition since then, which sums up the issue.
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