Jose Mourinho has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur missed the resurgent Tanguy Ndombele on Thursday.
Spurs slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Antwerp in the Europa League.
This was the first time Tottenham lost an away game since July and Mourinho feels that the French midfielder, an ever-present figure in his first XI this season, was missed in a major way in Belgium.
He told Football London about Ndombele, who was absent through injury: “Normally tomorrow he is training normal and is ready to play Sunday, and to be honest we missed him – because he gives speed to the team.
“Thinking quick, thinking fast moving the ball quick and fast, we missed him.”
And in the words of Martin Tyler – that sums it all up.
Mourinho’s comments illustrate just how far Ndombele has come since last season.
The former Lyon star was not only failing to make his manager’s starting lineup in the summer, but he regularly also struggled to even make the squad.
Speculation was rife that there was a riff between Ndombele and the Portuguese coach and normally when that happens, the player has to go.
So for Mourinho to now admit that the 24-year-old was actually missed is a pretty big deal, in the context of how grim his situation in North London looked only a few short months ago.
He is now a bonafide big player for Tottenham, the player he should’ve been under Mauricio Pochettino and, from the Lilywhites’ perspective, long may it last.
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