Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho delivers verdict on Premier League table after West Ham loss

Spurs: Mourinho gives team news ahead of West Ham clash

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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has insisted the Premier League table isn’t reflective of his side’s performances. The north London giants slumped to a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday. And that means they’re stuck in eighth in the table.

Tottenham went into the match against West Ham knowing they needed a return to winning ways.

But that didn’t happen with Spurs instead slipping to another defeat at the London Stadium.

Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard struck for the home side, with Tottenham only managing a consolation through Lucas Moura.

After the game, Mourinho was asked about Tottenham’s position in the table – and insisted it didn’t reflect his side’s quality.

“I feel that we are not in the position in relation to our potential,” he said.

“Even if I think for a long, long time that we have problems in the team that I cannot resolve by myself as a coach.

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“Our potential is higher than where we are so of course there is frustration. We should be in a better position.

“To think about a top four spot is getting very difficult. To play in the Europa League will give us a window of opportunity to get a Champions League spot by winning it. Of course, difficult, but it is possible.”

Mourinho also hailed Moura, saying the former Paris Saint-Germain winger ‘had a big heart’.

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“He is a team player. A big heart. Comes from the bench and gives everything, no regrets,” said the 58-year-old.

“Starts the game and where you need him, he is there for you. Today his performance was really good and that’s because he is a team player.”

Meanwhile, West Ham boss David Moyes hailed the result as ‘great’.

“A great win for us. A tough opponent,” said the Scot.

“Things like possession we feel we can be better. Let’s not get carried away totally, we still have some things to do but simple things like hunger and the desire to succeed can cover other things as well.

“I think if we’d had a bit more care we could have got 2-0 up at one point but we didn’t quite do that.

“He [Soucek] is a manager’s dream. He is somebody who wants to play, really humble and enjoying being here.

“Jesse has been a very good player, we shouldn’t take that away. He has had a difficult year. He has given us something else and helped us get better.

“We have only done half a job. If we continue this way we will be close. I don’t want to be negative in any way.

“We are enjoying it but are also not going to be daft. We will keep calm and hopefully keep pushing the teams at the top.

“West Ham have always had bits where they’ve won some big games but what they want is consistency and I think we have consistency. This club badly needs a level where they are not around the bottom. This time last year you were asking me if we can avoid relegation so it is a great feeling that is gone.

“There is always a first for everything and Jose Mourinho has had great teams. He is up there with elite managers but sometimes football can get you results like it did today.”

Moyes also hailed Lingard for his match winning contribution.

“Players want to play. They want to show what they can do,” he said.

“Jesse has done great for us and has contributed quickly. It wasn’t long ago Jesse was an England international so I knew if we could get that level of player, it would improve us.

“Today I don’t think we played as well as I’d have liked us to play which says a lot. You need a bit of luck along the way but we had all the right things. I want to get better at ball retention and possession but we have something to work with as we have a group of players that are determined to work to have success.

“I feel as if there is a half-job done. I think we can play much better and that’s what I’m saying. I don’t think we’ve hit top gear yet. The players have been finding ways to wrestle points off the opposition. They have done a brilliant job.”

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