Mourinho was already looking to next season. But now, he has a chance to reclaim something from the current campaign as the duty to seize the opportunity is on him.
Tottenham looked short of firepower since Harry Kane was injured in New Year’s Day. Heung Min Son, the man asked to deputize the striker joined Kane on the injury list when he broke his arm against Aston Villa.
Hopes of reaching another Champions League final became a blur. The prospects of qualifying for the competition were fading away.
At this point, Mourinho made his feelings known when he said, “We are speaking about a very difficult situation. And if I could, I would move to the first of July”.
The subsequent run of results did nothing to “soothe his spirit” but only added to his gloom. There were defeats to Chelsea and Wolverhampton, and FA Cup exit to Norwich. Spurs managed a point at Burnley but their last competitive action came in Leipzig where a 4-0 aggregate rout was confirmed.
As it turns out, July is approaching and the season has some way been left to run. Strange circumstances and tragic have conspired to leave Tottenham in mid-June with nine games to play.
This is exactly how Mourinho wanted it or meant in the quotation above. Harry Kane is back to training alongside Heung-Min Son. Moussa Sissoko is available again. The coach now has a full squad to choose from once again.
Is it a second chance for Tottenham?
Spurs kick off with a big game against Manchester United before facing West Ham. There follows a trip to Sheffield United. But, it is another opportunity, nevertheless.
This is a second chance for Mourinho to rip out something from the season that looked lost. His dedication is such that he will be eager to seize it. If you recall, Mourinho was conducting training sessions in the park during the lockdown, he lived at the club’s Enfield training ground. Others might lose focus, but the coach is not a man prone to distraction.
These were actions of an anxious man to get back out on the grass, to resume and begin to turn things around.
With the match ready to air live today on empty stadiums, will Mourinho step up to the advantage? Let’s watch and get back at the end of the big game.