Jose Mourinho is one of the prominent names in World football, and Daniel Levy’s decision to relieve the Portuguese of his duties as head coach just days before the Carabao Cup finals was a source of amazement for many. Regardless of the pressure building up on Jose – he is definitely the man you need by your side on days like these.
Ryan Mason was put in-charge. The interim Spurs’ man at the helm is younger than senior players in the Tottenham squad including Toby Alderweireld, who played alongside Mason during his first season at N17.
Undeterred by how young or inexperienced Mason is; Tody revealed that he has a clear philosophy and has already managed to converse his ideas across to the team. Alderweireld admitted that his former mate has brought clarity in terms of what he wants from the squad and how he wants his team to play.
Alderweireld sat down with talkSPORT ahead of Spurs’ Carabao Cup finale against Manchester City and was quizzed about playing under a coach who is three years his junior: “Surprisingly very good. Of course, we played together. We know each other. But he has a very good maturity – how he brings stuff over to the team, his idea of how he wants to play football, his tactical views.
“The time has changed where it’s only one guy who decides everything. We all talk about football, everyone sees football in a different way and of course, they will talk about how we want to play, how we feel comfortable.
“But he has one mindset in how he wants to play and he brings that to the team in an unbelievable way.”
Ryan Mason could become an instant hero at the club if delivers a title a week into the job, however, he will have to earn it as Manchester City will be at their utmost best on the weekend, as they have been all season.
Alderweireld insisted that there is belief in the squad that they can better Pep Guardiola’s resilient City at Wembley.
The Belgian international was asked about City’s attacking prowess and how difficult it would be to cope with it: “We know we are going to play a big opponent, a very good team, but we have to have confidence in ourselves. They are an unbelievable team. We don’t only have to stop them but beat them so we have to look to ourselves.
“They are such a good team. They don’t have one style of play. Their threat is from everywhere. We can’t only think about stopping them. We have to have confidence in our game.
“We have very good players ourselves. We have to have a way to beat them, not only stop them.”
Often called out by critics as an ‘overthinker’, Manchester City’s record in the Carabao Cup final shows that Guardiola’s management in finals is by far the best when compared to his peers. This is because Guardiola and his team are built from a different mold.
If the Spurs decide to match City with high presses and cutting the passing lane, Ryan Mason’s side may be punished with City’s ability to use spaces in behind midfield. But going into the finals, Tottenham will certainly need to show more attacking abilities than they did under Mourinho.