Tottenham Hotspur ace Matt Doherty is in great form under Antonio Conte – but he has opened up on how he could have ruined it all under Jose Mourinho.
Doherty looked to be dead and buried at Tottenham and was even being linked with a move away from the club during the January window.
Now it’s hard to imagine Conte lining up with a Tottenham side that doesn’t include Doherty.
The Irish international got back on track with a goal and assist against Leeds in February. Then it was two assists in the 5-0 thrashing of Everton.
On Sunday, Doherty scored from a Harry Kane cross before turning provider himself, finding Emerson Royal in the 5-1 win over Newcastle United.
From being on the periphery at Tottenham to becoming an attacking threat at right or left wing back, Doherty is enjoying a shock renaissance.
Signed for £15million from Wolves in 2020, Doherty arrived having impressed as a wing back but was then used as a right back under Jose Mourinho.
Maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised that Doherty is back to his best now he’s playing as a wing back once again.
Doherty has now opened up about his struggles under Mourinho and how he nearly ruined his Tottenham career in one fell swoop.
Doherty has told The Guardian about Tottenham’s trip to Aston Villa in 2021, when Mourinho left him out of the squad.
COVID-19 protocols meant that Doherty wasn’t allowed into the dressing room as he wasn’t part of the matchday squad, so he simply had to sit on the team bus on his own.
Doherty has admitted that he so nearly drove away and went off on international duty early, seemingly just so upset at his treatment under Mourinho.
Doherty does though admit that such a decision would have been unprofessional, seemingly knowing that Mourinho would have reacted badly to him leaving.
Now, Doherty’s patience is now being rewarded in a major turn of events at Tottenham.
“I went to get off the bus and it was Covid at the time, so you weren’t allowed in the changing room if you weren’t in the squad,” said Doherty. “Ledley [King], who was the assistant coach, was like: ‘You’ve got to stay on the bus.’ Once the game started I was allowed to go into the stands. So now I was just sat on the bus on my own. Genuinely, because it was the international break straight after, I was so close to just getting in the car and going. I think [Republic of Ireland] were meeting in Manchester anyway. I didn’t in the end, I decided I’d stay and watch the game and then go.”
“I’m glad I didn’t. It’s just not professional, is it, to do that? In your head you’re sitting on the bus and thinking: ‘What’s the point in watching the game? I might as well go.’ There were kids, and that’s no disrespect to kids, on the bench. [Mourinho] was trying to prove a point to everybody, not just for me but for the players who weren’t there either, but it was not fun,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
