Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho aims unexpected dig at Mauricio Pochettino after Arsenal win

Jose Mourinho took an unexpected swipe at Mauricio Pochettino by blaming his poor start for Spurs missing out on the Champions League. A late header from Toby Alderweireld clinched the north London derby after Heung-Min Son wiped out Arsenal’s early lead courtesy of Alexandre Lacazette just three minutes later. If Manchester United beat Southampton at Old Trafford, they will be nine points clear of Spurs with just three games to go – and 11 ahead of Arsenal.

But Mourinho pointed out that if the season had started when he took over on November 20, Tottenham would still be in contention for one of the top places.

“I know I could look at in a selfish point of view and say since I arrived, if the championship started in that moment, even with all the problems we had I think we would now be fourth or fifth in the table,” Mourinho said.

“But I don’t want to be selfish. Nor do I don’t want to look at it just as a fan that is happy to finish above Arsenal.

“I have to be more ambitious than that.

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“I would love to play Europa League. In my career, I only played Europa League twice and I won it twice.

“It would not be bad to play it a third time and to win it a third time.”

For now, Spurs have to make do with bragging rights and Mourinho praised the commitment of his players.

“Big credit to the players because they were really fantastic,” he said. “What I asked for them tactically they gave me.

“What I asked from them from the emotional point of view, they gave me even more. They were fantastic.

“They felt the game as fans, they wore their skin.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was made to rue yet more defensive errors.

“We have to learn, in every game something happens,” he said. “A little margin here, a little margin there. But I’m sure we will get there.

“I’m proud because I’ve never seen them play like they did today. But I’m sorry for the fans, I know how much it means.”

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source: express.co.uk