Jose Mourinho insists he remains ‘really happy’ at Tottenham and has praised the club’s ‘mentality’ and ‘spirit’ following a difficult period.
Mourinho has enjoyed a mixed time since his arrival as Spurs boss in November, though he has helped the north London side close the gap on the top four with the club currently just four points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the race to secure Champions League qualification.
Despite moving into contention to finish in the top four, Sky Sports’ pundit Paul Merson said Mourinho is showing signs of unhappiness and will be questioning his decision to succeed the sacked Mauricio Pochettino, having failed to see the desired improvement from his players thus far.
The freshly trimmed Portuguese has now moved to dismiss those claims, insisting he remains ‘very happy’ at the club, even though he accepts he can be ‘difficult’.
“Contrary to some people who want to be in the news and tell things that are not true – I am really happy at the club,” he told Sky Sports.
“You know me quite well, enough to know that I am really happy. Difficult? yes, but if it was not difficult it wouldn’t be for me.
Jose Mourinho responds to Paul Merson saying he's not happy at Spurs
????"Contrary to some people who wants to be in the news, I'm really happy at the club" pic.twitter.com/KLv0V0osHi
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 10, 2020
“I like the players and who they are. I like very much the relationship I have with them. If you see a bad face from me it is because of a bad result. I cannot change myself.
“That’s just me. The reality is that I am happy and I look forward to what is coming, and even more for what is coming next season. I want to start working with them in July.”
Tottenham headed into the winter break on the back of a hugely important home victory over Premier League champions Manchester City, securing their second successive three points following a run of four games without a win.
Mourinho was full of praise for his side’s performances in recent weeks, insisting the Spurs squad are ‘giving absolutely everything’ as they bid to put together a consistent run of results following a difficult start to the season.
“We as a team in the last few weeks are showing a certain mentality. This season has been hard for them. Even before I arrived,” he added.
“They lost the captain Hugo Lloris for a long period. Then progressively you lose another player. Then another one. Then another one.
“But the way the team has fought has made me even prouder of them. People like Son and Lucas going to their limits and giving absolutely everything. Injured players trying to give everything.
“The spirit is amazing.”
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