Jose Mourinho apologised to Eric Dier after his 29th-minute substitution in Tottenham's 4-2 Champions League win over Olympiakos.
With a stunned Spurs 2-0 down in Mourinho's first home game in charge, the new boss made the call to hook Dier for the more creative midfielder Christian Eriksen, who would go on to play his part in their comeback victory. Dele Alli's goal on the stroke of half-time would spark the turnaround, before three goals in 23 second-half minutes - two from Harry Kane and one from Serge Aurier - saw them comfortably into the last 16.
"The most difficult moment of the game was not when they scored the first two goals, it was when I made the change in the first half," Mourinho said.
"We are losing 2-0, in a very difficult situation in that moment, and I felt that one positional midfield player was enough. I thought I needed a second creative player who could play with Alli in what I call an open triangle, and not with a closed triangle with two deeper midfielders. I apologise to Eric, but he knows I did it for the team and not to hurt him. I think the fans understood too."
Spurs players 'needed love' at half-time
A dreadful first-half showing barely deserved the gift of an open goal for Alli in injury-time, and left Mourinho to think his players needed an arm around the shoulder rather than the hairdryer treatment at the break.
"I had to be a soft version of myself at half-time," he said. "It was a bit of a surprise for me about the players' self confidence, playing at home without the best results, and the Bayern [Munich] game in their thoughts. I felt they were in need of some love, and not a criticism. One to give them some emotional balance.
"And then, the way they reacted to the second half, the preparation of the second half, to come from behind to go forward and knowing a draw would give us qualification with Bayern winning, but not accept it and go for victory, go in search of happiness and confidence, they did that too.
"I expect the next home game, the boys to start without ghosts, immediately open and confidently to play, because they are very good players."
Comments
Post a Comment