Tottenham Hotspur: Jose Mourinho is Still a Rock Star

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Jose Mourinho manager of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 02, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Jose Mourinho manager of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 02, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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The squad is still depleted and the analytics add up to a mid-level team, yet Jose has put this band together and is making it work.

The more he makes these pieces work together and the results come, the more converts in the stands he brings into the tent. With Spurs fans, they see Jose as an aging rock singer that can still belt out a random good song out of nothing while hoping he has one big hit left.

Tottenham is now making their case. Mourinho is not quite in full conspiracy theory mode which marked the end of his runs at Chelsea and Manchester United, but it’s early. He is putting together game-by-game plans with random pieces that are getting results by striking at the right moments.

Timing Brings Opportunity

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Tottenham’s offense is at its best in converting goal opportunities into actual goals between the 61st and 75th minute while also having their best-expected goals differential in the last 15 minutes in matches, per understat.com.

This indicates that Mourinho’s squad is at it’s best in the last half hour of the match when the other team’s physical and mental energy is flagging. Though this may be a result of Pochettino’s rigorous training methods, Jose has kept this going and added the mentality needed to see things through.

Per understat.com‘s analytics, Spurs are also at their best in terms of creating goal opportunities and limiting opponent’s opportunities while leading in the match. Their expected goal differential (xGD) is 2.04 when leading by a goal and 1.04 when leading by more than one goal. Ironically, Tottenham is at its worst in regards to creating and limiting goal chances when the match is tied, per understat.com.