When Jose Mourinho walked through the doors of Tottenham Hotspur for the first time there was a renewed vigour about the Portuguese.
Down in the dumps at Manchester United, he was sacked and cast aside for an extended period of time.
He may not have worked wonders with Spurs just yet, but there is a bright future for a football club attempting to establish themselves after the pain of losing a Champions League final last year.
Gone are the days of Mauricio Pochettino, but so too it seems are the days of Mourinho’s hesitancy to hand young players an opportunity.
On his first day in the job, he revealed his excitement at working with the talent in Spurs’ academy. Then in an interview with BT Sport, he slated United’s, suggesting the youth team wasn’t good enough.
It was evidence to suggest the former Chelsea boss would change his ways.
In west London, he was famed for not using some of the brightest players around. The Blues stockpiled their youngsters and sent them out on loan – two of the most high profile names, of course, were Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne.
Earlier this season, Frank Lampard noted:
“If we’re not patient and we don’t stick with the players then you might be in a situation where we have been before, where top world-class players have been at Chelsea when they were 20 or 21, but the managers maybe didn’t stick with them so much then. I’m in a position where I’m going to stick with them.”
It was a subtle dig at Mourinho for the way he let two of the most influential players in the Premier League depart but it looks like he’s learning from the errors of his ways.
Japhet Tanganga is a fine example. Just 20 years of age, the defender is already set for a 1500% wage increase after starting just three top-flight outings under the current Spurs boss.
He is a shining light, a young one at that, something that’s been too infrequent at other clubs Mourinho has had the privilege to manage.
Two of Tanganga’s first matches for Tottenham have been against Manchester City and Liverpool. Not afraid to throw him in at the deep end, the 57-year-old is already reaping the rewards of his changed attitude.
Against Liverpool, the defender won a combined six tackles, interceptions and aerial duels. Versus City, however, that increased to a total of ten. Even in such a short space of time he is improving and a new contract would be richly deserved.
In fact, it would also be symbolic of Mourinho beginning to evaporate one of his biggest flaws. Seen as someone who didn’t play the youth, he’s dispelling that at Spurs.
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The proof will be in the pudding with Troy Parrott too – someone who has earned a new contract this week. If both he and Tanganga pen improved terms, it will be a big smack in the face of the Tottenham manager’s doubters.
He vowed to use Spurs’ academy when he walked into the club and the signs now look hugely encouraging.
The next step will be to hand Parrott regular minutes, as he is doing with Tanganga.
Meanwhile, Spurs COULD SIGN someone who was previously compared to Dybala…