Jose Mourinho was full of praise for one ‘magnificent’ Tottenham star after the impressive 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday.
Spurs cruised to victory at Bramall Lane thanks to goals from Serge Aurier, Harry Kane and the impressive Tanguy Ndombele.
And it was the latter that Mourinho singled out after his wonder strike secured an important three points.
The Tottenham chief said: “The performance was good. The team was very dominant. Created enough chances in the first half to kill the game off and in the second half the intention was the same. Then we had the genius action that brought us back.”
On Ndombele’s display, Mourinho added: “It’s the second or third time he’s played for 90 minutes. He’s playing high intensity football and it’s not easy for midfielders. His performance was very good.
“I give special credit to Ndombele. Is the player’s desire to earn and win a place in the team. Mr Levy’s input is some but it is small. It’s on the player.
“It’s true that Mr Levy had some conversations with him and to tell him that we believed in him. The same for me and my door is always open, but the player has to walk through. It’s not for me to go and bring them through.
“I coach for so many years, had so many players. I have enough experience to say and to feel that when a player is not playing very well, it’s his responsibility, and when a player turns things around, and brings his performance level to a very high level, it’s also his responsibility.
“It’s a great example [with Ndombele], the door is always open, door of the team is always open. When a player is not playing he has to try to understand why, he has to try to understand how can he walk through that door. He understood, he understood. the goal is amazing.
“But I don’t care about that, I care about the performance, the performance was magnificent, I’m really pleased he’s come to this level, he’s playing very, very well.”
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Rodon earning his stripes
Mourinho also picked out young centre-back Joe Rodon for praise, after the former Swansea man started in a back three in Yorkshire.
“He played well, he did many things well, a couple of things not so well. But he is a player that was playing in the Championship, a young guy, he has to learn.
“He has to learn, he has to make mistakes, he has to play, he has to not play, we have to give him conditions to perform. He is a good player who can become much better. I am happy with his performance.”
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