Erik Lamela has been speaking to Goal about his Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho.
The Argentina international, who cost Spurs £25.7 million when he joined from Roma in 2013, said: ‘Whatever people might say about him, I find Mourinho to be a really nice person and we smile with him every day. He is very honest with the players and we have a good relationship with him. Also, he is a winner and we want to win with him.
‘The moment when the manager comes in was very strange for us and you will see the reaction of the players when we see him for the first time on the Amazon documentary.’
Lamela has spent time under a number of different managers in north London since Andre Villas-Boas signed him.
The 28-year-old has been tutored by Tim Sherwood, Mauricio Pochettino and now Mourinho, and it’s interesting to see the forward speak about his boss in a manner which the media tend to portray the opposite of.
In recent years, the ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has become well-known for being something of a grumpy coach, picking verbal squabbles with the likes of Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw while at Manchester United.
However, Lamela’s verdict on the Portuguese coach is much more pleasing to hear.
Tottenham’s No.11 has work to do to get into Mourinho’s starting XI this term.
After Spurs added the likes of Gareth Bale and Carlos Vinicius to the attacking ranks, Lamela – who has only started one Premier League game this season – must force his way into the side.
It won’t do the trick entirely, but speaking so fondly of his manager will surely only help his chances of being named in the starting XI more often!
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