Tottenham saw Jose Mourinho as Messiah, but quickly realized that the team would not go far • Tonight he would try to surprise Leipzig outside and take the Roosters to the Champions Quarterfinals and also hope he could change the future • Tonight: Valencia hosts Atlanta without An audience in the stands

• Mourinho. Didn't really change his skin

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There are consequences, and there are feelings. And according to the results, Jose Mourinho has been doing a pretty bad job since being appointed manager of Tottenham in November. During that time and after the draw against Burnley this weekend, his team gained 27 points, third only to Manchester City and of course Liverpool.

Now admit that this figure is surprising, because the feelings, on the other hand, are very bad. The public criticism voiced by the Portuguese at the end of the game about midfielder Tangi Andumbella; "In the first half we were with a lesser player, he couldn't acclimate to the league," was another anecdote that added to the murky atmosphere of the Roosters.

Eric Dyer’s quarrel with the team’s fans due to racist cries was another such moment that came after a five-game streak without a win in all frames. In the event that this run is extended to six for Germany against RB Leipzig tonight (the Germans won 0: 1 in London), Tottenham and Mourinho will finish another undefeated season, with all of the trophy establishments being eliminated before the quarterfinals.

Mourinho in typical pose. The opening was encouraging // Photo: IP

This is not the scenario he saw in Daniel Levy when he landed Mourinho in London instead of Mauricio Pochettino. It is conceivable that the Tottenham owner has seen titles, trophies, plates, a coach who adopts the underdog image and takes the Roosters to new heights of cunning. And really, the early days were like a movie. Three consecutive wins in goalscoring games, turnovers, boy brings balls that brought great cooking, smiles, charisma, paradise.

As long as the team was fine Mourinho was fine, but that order changed very quickly. We are in March and Tottenham is stuck in the same mediocrity that was when Puccettino left her. She is able to beat Manchester City in the league and finish her way in the Cup against Norwich. It has no stability, no progress, it's hard to put a finger on anything the Portuguese gave it besides its inclusion in the composition of young brake Jaft Tanganga.

Mourinho in training with his players. Looking guilty // Photo: AFP

Maybe after all

All of these, and especially the feeble match against Leipzig three weeks ago, bolster those who claimed Mourinho was not fit for Tottenham and that he was unsuitable for him. To many, the Portuguese is no longer able to produce the magic he did with Porto and Inter and at the start with Chelsea - mainly because the football has progressed and he is left behind.

They say the only tactic that Manager Tottenham still controls is spreading blame on others after losses. The case with Andumbella was not the first in which the Portuguese criticized a player in his team - he did so with the likes of Zaran, Paul Pogba, Pepe and others - but this time it comes with excuses stemming from the severe blow.

Andumbella vs. Burnley. "We played with 10 players" his coach said of him // Photo: Reuters

"It's not the real Tottenham," he recently said of Harry Kane and Jung Min Son's injuries, "any team in the world, even with the most flashy roster, will be hurt if it misses so many key players. Just imagine Liverpool without Salah and Mana." And as if to reinforce the theory, Stephen Brawwin was also injured and will not play tonight.

But because Mourinho cannot remain indifferent, some see other excuses as reasons for failure. There are quite a few Tottenham fans, some interviewed this week by the BBC, who are sure Portuguese is the solution, not the problem. They refer half of the criticism to Daniel Levy, his stinginess and faculty building, and are confident that under other conditions and the right resources Mourinho can be the man to the task.

At the moment, it is hard to find evidence that the Portuguese can lead this Tottenham to the title, but maybe tonight - with his back to the wall just as he likes - Mourinho will give Tottenham fans a result that will enhance the feeling, giving you reason to believe that even if he is no longer special, he can be the one.

Evening tonight: With a 1: 4 lead, Atlanta will host Valencia in a match that will take place without a crowd and without press conferences following the isolation of the Italians. When Spanish journalists tried to interview Atlanta star Papo Gomes, the Argentine replied: "You clowns, we must not talk to anyone."