Ahead of the game against Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League playoffs, the Tottenham manager recalled Abu Fanny's prank: "Unlike us, Haifa had a whole week to prepare. Until yesterday we were only focused on Everton and Newcastle. I know they like to play with five players behind."
Jose Mourinho.
Even he does not forget Abu Fani
Photography:
AFP
Maccabi Haifa will face Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow night (Thursday, 22:00) at the Hotspur Stadium in London, with the stated goal of qualifying for the home stage of the Europa League.
"It's true that they had a week to prepare, their last game was in Rostov," he said tonight in a special campaign ahead of the match against the Greens. "Haifa had time to prepare, to rest, to analyze the situation.
The only thing my players know about Maccabi Haifa is their player's funny video about us (Abu Fani's video).
"I want my players to concentrate only on tomorrow's game. Until yesterday we were only focused on Everton, Newcastle, nothing on Maccabi Haifa. While we have we are analyzing them as much as possible. Now we have some good ideas about them, we have seen not only the Europa League but "The rest of the games as well. We know their players personally, the system with five behind but they can also play with four."
Mourinho. Already preparing the excuse package? // Photo: AP
Ahead of tomorrow's game, Mourinho said: "It's a big game. It's a tough game, of course the framework is different from the Champions League. Playing on Thursdays is very difficult but we have the motivation to go through it forever. There are many good teams and some teams have fallen in the Champions League. "Certainly when there is only one game. We experienced it in Bulgaria. We play at home, away goals have no meaning, but there is an extension in case of a draw, so we will have to do everything to win the game."
On the unimpressive ability at the start of the season in England: "I do not blame anyone for the points we lost in the Premier League. I do not blame the referees for Hoare. Even before Manchester United we had a crazy week. Against Everton we did not have good ability, we deserved more than a loss, "Still the ability was not good. Against Newcastle we did not make good decisions. This week will decide if we get to Sunday in a difficult situation, but we will go through it game after game and try to meet our goals."
"I'm optimistic, but more than that, the feeling I like, is that we try everything to succeed. If we succeed, it's something else, but we give everything and try everything. I love the feeling at the club, it's most important to me personally. Great, if not football. "