‘The back four is an absolute shambles’ – Mourinho told to overhaul Tottenham

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Jose Mourinho has been told that he needs to reassess his defensive options if he is to save his job at Tottenham.

Spurs suffered a 2-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday that leaves them ninth in the Premier League, nine points short of the Champions League spots.

A dreadful run of form has seen Mourinho’s men rapidly fall from title contenders before Christmas to an outfit facing a major fight just to make Europe.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes the issue lies in defence rather than the dugout, branding the centre-backs the worst pairing in the league .

“It’s getting embarrassing, isn’t it?” O’Hara told Talksport of Mourinho’s side. “We should be turning West Ham over!

“I don’t think we’re going to win anything this season, I think we’ll end up trophyless again, I really do.

“You look at the team and the back four is just an absolute shambles. I don’t know why Mourinho keeps playing [Davinson] Sanchez and [Eric] Dier because it’s probably one of the worst partnerships in the Premier League!

“[Japhet] Tanganga plays right-back, but Mourinho takes him off and puts [Matt] Doherty there, he’s played [Moussa] Sissoko at right-back, [Serge] Aurier, he just doesn’t know the team.

“The only player you’d say deserves to play in that back-four is [Sergio] Reguilon, I really like him, he’s decent.”

Tottenham play Wolfsberger in the Europa League on Wednesday, a tie that is a formality given they lead 4-1 from the first leg, then face Premier League matches against Burnley, Fulham and Crystal Palace in quick succession.

Mourinho has been in charge of Spurs for little over a year, having taken over from the popular Mauricio Pochettino in the autumn of 2019. After a promising start to this season, the former Real Madrid and Man Utd boss has been criticised for his dour style.