‘That for me is fantastic’: Jose Mourinho reveals Tottenham players are ‘not happy’ with Chelsea draw and praises ‘a complete change of mentality and personality’ in his team
- Tottenham stayed top of the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at Chelsea
- Frank Lampard’s Blues dominated the possession and the chances on Sunday
- Jose Mourinho maintains his side are unhappy with the draw at Stamford Bridge
- The Portuguese coach claims he is changing a mentality among his squad
Jose Mourinho revealed his Tottenham players are unhappy with their 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday despite creating little in front of goal at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs clung on to top spot in the Premier League with the goalless draw against their London rivals, though Frank Lampard‘s Blues dominated the possession over Mourinho’s men, with Mason Mount having the best chance of the game in the second-half.
Tottenham have only managed one league win at Stamford Bridge in the last 30 years, but Mourinho claimed his side are changing their mentality in games against Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho claims his Tottenham players are not happy with their 0-0 draw at Chelsea
Spurs kept hold of top spot in the Premier League with a goalless draw at the Blues on Sunday
The Portuguese manager told Sky Sports: ‘The one thing that I take from the game is that a draw here normally is a positive result. To stay top of the league is also positive thing.
‘My dressing room is not happy. That’s the best thing I take from the game we’re not happy and that for me is fantastic. That’s a complete change of mentality and personality.
‘You can tell us we didn’t have many chances and I agree but how many did they have? That’s the thing that makes me happy we’re not happy with a draw at Stamford Bridge.’
Tottenham did have their own chances on goal, with Serge Aurier forcing Edouard Mendy into a first-half save while Steven Bergwijn blazed a glorious chance over from inside the penalty area.
Mourinho believes he is instilling a change in mentality at Tottenham in big matches
And Mourinho claimed both sides lacked quality in front of goal in a game that meant a great deal to the London rivals, even with the rivalry aside.
While Spurs returned to the Premier League summit on Sunday night, victory could have taken Mourinho’s squad two points clear of last season’s champions Liverpool, who drew at Brighton on Saturday.
Lampard’s Chelsea, meanwhile, would have replaced Tottenham at the top had they found a winner on Sunday night.
Mourinho added: ‘I believe it’s a game where we respect them and they respect us. Nobody gambled. Nobody tried to change the direction of the game.
The Spurs boss also claimed both sides lacked quality in front of goal on Sunday afternoon
‘Everybody was in a situation of one mistake, I punish you, I win especially in the last 15-20 minutes of the game. But I think difficult game to play for both.’
The Spurs boss also had special words for young Tottenham defender Joe Rodon, who made a first Premier League start for his new club on Sunday.
The 23-year-old’s last league start was in a Championship tie for Swansea City against Millwall at the start of October, with Mourinho claiming Rodon managed the step up to a high pressured Premier League game well.
Mourinho praised the defensive display of young defender Joe Rodon (left) at Stamford Bridge
When asked about Rodon, the Spurs boss ‘It was difficult but he showed great personality.
‘From my fast analysing during the 90 minutes I got one mistake which ended with an offside goal and another backheader to Hugo which found Giroud in a middle position. He was comfortable, that was an important thing.
‘You have a look at the two teams on one side you’ve got Thiago Silva coming from an amazing career at the highest level and Joe Rodon coming from Swansea in the Championship – I have to be happy with the kid.’