Before his first home game as Tottenham manager, Jose Mourinho looked a man content. As atmospheric music revurberated around White Hart Lane, he stood on the touchline with a relaxed, care-free expression on his face.
Dressed smart in black, the ideal colour for a man regarded as a huge fan of the dark arts, it seemed as if Tottenham were going to build on the weekend’s win over West Ham with another three points. Everything appeared to be willing it so.
There was a gesture to Tottenham fans early into the game, one that showed he was already relaxed in his new surroundings. Not that he needs their 100 per cent approval mind.
But that lasted just six minutes and when Spurs went 1-0 down, he snapped into life. Having lost plenty of games at United last year, he didn’t want to succumb to another defeat.
After Youssef El Arabi struck the visitors in front, he urged his side to get the ball and get it forward. There was a half-shrug. Moments later, a sip from a water bottle as he trudged back to his seat.
And then he was back on the touchline, where he stayed for the bulk of the match, barking orders and giving his men encouragement when it was needed.
When Son Heung-Fin’s flick looked likely to end up in the corner of the net with 14 minutes on the clock, he puffed his cheeks. Close.
Yet he looked totally disgusted by Olympiakos’ second, where they were able to capitalise on some shocking defending to double their lead.
From that moment on, Mourinho acted like a man unwilling to accept defeat. Knowing he’d be mocked, knowing what people would say, he did everything in his power to change the game.
He mulled over bringing on Moussa Sissoko, making him warm up moments after Ruben Semedo’s goal for the away side. Eventually, he thought better of it.
But he went for Christian Eriksen instead, ruthelssly hooking Eric Dier with less than half an hour on the clock in scenes remniscant of when he subbed Nemanja Matic off for Chelsea – despite bringing him on earlier in the game.
As the Tottenham crowd grew in volume, so too did Mourinho.
He shouted, huffing and puffing his cheeks. He exchanged words with his No 2, Joao Sacramento, who joined him on the touchline in urging his players forward.
And when Tottenham finally scored through Dele Alli, Mourinho showed no emotion. Defeat was, after all, still on the cards.
As the second half got under way, it was more of the same.
Mourinho stared at the crowd, almost angrily as if they weren’t making much noise. They got the message. The noise went up.
And when Sanchez’s header soared over the bar from close range, he couldn’t resist a pop. Turning to Sacramento, he gestured. I could have scored that, was the gist.
He was celebrating just five minutes later, though.
Mourinho punched the air and shouted as Tottenham levelled through Harry Kane. He turned to the fans he’d stared down seconds earlier and had the look of a man vindicated.
As the game headed towards a point, the Tottenham boss looked nervy. His side were beginning to turn the tide but Olympiakos still posed a threat on the counter.
Yet, as he always seems to do, – Mourinho got what he wanted: a win. His half-time team talk and brave decision to take off Dier had paid off and the home supporters went home happy after two of their most vital players – Kane and Alli – had stepped up when needed.
Mourinho’s touchline antics all suggest that he’s very much invested in this job and determined to succeed. That’s good news too because there’s plenty of work to do.