Mourinho names two ‘fundamental’ players as he questions Spurs motivation in Europa League

Jose Mourinho has named the two players ‘fundamental’ to Tottenham and has questioned his side’s motivation following their 3-3 draw with LASK in the Europa League.

Spurs secured their place in the competition’s knockout stages with a point against the Austrian side, though produced a disappointing performance as a rotated team were dominated by the hosts during the first half.

The north London side were fortunate to head into the interval level courtesy of Gareth Bale’s penalty as the host’s carved out a number of opportunities, before conceding twice in the final stages – including a stoppage-time equaliser – as LASK secured a deserved draw.

Mourinho was critical of his side despite seeing Spurs seal their place in the last 32, questioning the motivation of his second string side and admitting the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Son Heung-Min are ‘fundamental’ to Spurs’ hopes of securing results.

Asked what he learned from the game by BT Sport Mourinho said: “Nothing new really.

“The fact that the Europa League group phase doesn’t motivate some of the players, I knew it.

“That some players are fundamental for us and I always need on the pitch in any circumstance, a couple of these players to give a little bit of balance to the team.

“As an example, (Pierre-Emile) Hojbjerg and Sonny, without them I don’t think we would have a positive result. Nothing really that I learn. The players know and I share my feelings with them, I am normally right.

“When I saw the warm-up before the game I had a feeling and I told the players before the game that there was a huge difference in intensity, communication and enthusiasm in their warm-up and our warm-up because I was looking at both. Nothing surprises me.”

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