Former Spurs star says some players don’t fit with Jose Mourinho’s style of play

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 09:43 CDT
• 2 min read

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm believes that the club have a problem on their hands as there are certain players who don’t fit the style of manager Jose Mourinho.

Spurs were known for their high press up the pitch and at times swashbuckling attacking football under Mauricio Pochettino before the Argentine left the club to be replaced by Mourinho last December, with the former Chelsea and Man Utd boss known for his more pragmatic style.

There have been runs where Tottenham have looked good under Mourinho, and topped the league for a short period in 2020/21, but they have dropped off significantly since the turn of the year and are down down in ninth in the Premier League.

Spurs have the joint-eighth worst goalscoring record in the division this season despite having the talents of the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, and Vorm believes they are players within the squad who are struggling to adapt to Mourinho’s less creative style.

“The style of play is how the manager is, but some players don’t fit the way he wants to play, and I think this could be a problem,” Vorm told Stadium Astro.

“If you look at the squad, we have more than enough quality to do better than we’re doing, even with the style of Mourinho.

“If you look at the back, he is not sure what his best back four is.

“But, in these times we live in, it is difficult to sign players, because you need to get players out as well.”

Vorm believes Mourinho was hired to ultimately bright silverware to the club, and does reckon the club has the individuals there to be doing better than they are at the moment.

“I think that Tottenham really believed, that when they signed Mourinho over Pochettino, they have a serial winner, who can maybe give that extra to maybe go on and win those prizes,” the Dutchman explained.

“To get the style of play we were used to, to change, is difficult, and you also need certain types of players.

“I think at the moment, they have a very good squad. If you look at the individuals, they have a very good squad, but you see that he has struggled to find a starting XI.

“In a way, you can see a Mourinho team, you can see an identity, but I think it is hard for him to say ‘this is my team’.

“You went from one style of play to another.”

Tottenham do remain in the hunt for silverware in the Europa League, and face Wolfsberger in the last-32 on Thursday.