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| Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho |
Jose Mourinho said it will take several transfer windows for him to get his Tottenham squad into shape and accepts his big-spending days are behind him.
Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino in November knowing he would never have the spending power that he has enjoyed at Chelsea and Manchester United in the past.
It leaves him with a depleted squad, as even though star man Harry Kane and midfielder Moussa Sissoko have been ruled out until April, Mourinho says they are not going to be โkings of the transfer marketโ in the current โ or any โ window.
It is a far cry from his days at Chelsea, where in 2004 he built one of the greatest Premier League sideโs in one summer transfer window, but it is a challenge he is determined to enjoy.
On the comparison to Chelsea, he said: โCome on! But that was quite simple in the sense of, โWhich one is a central defender that I want? That one, thank you very muchโ.
โBut again we are a different club, we have to do it in a different way.
โTime compensates transfer windows. Amazing transfer windows, you need less time.
โBalanced transfer windows, you need more time and this is the profile so for me itโs about time and time to work, so more transfer windows because we are not going ever to be the transfer window king.
โOf course, itโs a different challenge. I think you should look to it also in a different way.
โFor me, itโs very enjoyable. Again, I came to the club so happy to come.
โOne of the reasons I was so happy to come was because everything was crystal clear.
โNothing was promised to me that in this moment, I say, โOh, it was not truth, I am very disappointed, we didnโt knowโ.
โEverything was honest and clear and Iโm giving to the club what I promised so I donโt also mislead, and the only thing that I promised is what Iโm giving.โ
There is never a good time to lose your talisman and top scorer, who could easily not play again this season, but January does at least offer Spurs a chance to replace him.
Krzysztof Piatek is one player who could fit the bill, but Mourinho did not want to get drawn on the AC Milan forward.
โI donโt speak about rumours,โ he said. โI donโt speak about players from other clubs.
โImagine if I speak about Piatek, is he happy that I speak about him?
โIs AC Milan happy that I speak about him? I donโt speak about players from other clubs, Iโm sorry.โ
Whether it is Piatek or anyone else that Spurs do manage to bring in, Mourinho insists the January transfer window is not the ideal time.
โI think itโs very difficult,โ he said. โItโs the window of opportunity. Sometimes opportunities come for some reasons.
โSome clubs they have too many. Some clubs save an important salary.
โSometimes players and coaches are not having the best empathy and both have the desire to split.
โSome players are not playing because of some reason and because of the Euros they move to play, to try to get in the Euros with national team ambition.
โSometimes opportunities are coming but other times not.
โThe desire of every team, and we are not different, is to improve. The best way to improve on the long term, is it to do something now?
โIn the summer with more options? Or now to try to help the team until the end of the season or no?
โAgain, we have to be calm and patient, and see. Instead of us chasing the market, letโs see if something happens in the market and see if the market decides to knock on our door.
โI think itโs better that way.โ
REUTERS
