Tottenham edged past bottom-of-the-table Norwich to claim their first Premier League win of 2020. However, Jose Mourinho lamented on his side’s bad luck with injuries.
Tottenham has struggled for goals since they lost Harry Kane to injury. Nonetheless, Spurs managed to end a run of three league games without scoring.
Dele Alli struck just before half-time. With 10 minutes after the break, Tottenham lost Harry Winks to injury as Norwich equalized with 20 minutes to go. Teemu Pukki fired a second-half penalty past Hugo Lloris who was making his return after three months out with a dislocated shoulder.
Son Heung-min hammered in a deflected cross with 11 minutes to go.
“We are in a situation when I have to think, think and think.” Said Mourinho.
“I look to the bench and we don’t have attacking players. I had to take off Erik Lamela because of fatigue but we showed an incredible reaction to score a second goal.”
“When Chelsea want to win, they bring on Michy Batshuayi. When Manchester City wants to change Gabriel Jesus, they bring in Sergio Aguero.”
“We are so, so unlucky with injuries. We get back Hugo Lloris and we lose Harry Winks. It’s incredible.”
Dele Alli ends Tottenham’s long wait.
For more than 30 minutes, Tottenham looked destined to draw a blank. Spurs build-up play was ponderous and on a few occasions, they did manage to find gaps in the Norwich defense. However, these chances were wasted.
Seven minutes before half-time, Alli provided the one moment of quality to break the deadlock. After 398 minutes and 48 shots, Spurs had finally scored their first goal of 2020.
In the second half, Son, aided by a touch of fortune with the wicked deflection from Alli’s cross got the winner with 11 minutes to go. He ensured Tottenham took three points that keeps them in the hunt for the top four.
Delighted with Lloris return
Jose Mourinho was delighted with Lloris’ return-one of the world’s best goalkeepers.
The France international had been out since he dislocated his elbow against Brighton on 5th October. He was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI for this game.
Lloris was largely untested and perhaps should have done much better for Pukki’s penalty having guessed the right way. But it was pleasing for Mourinho to see him come through the 90 minutes unscathed.
“It’s happiness to see one of the best goalkeepers in the world to be back.” Added Mourinho.
“It’s a very good feeling for us but at the same time it is one of these decisions that sometimes we must have it, but it hurts. To leave Paulo Gazzaniga out hurts.”
“The good thing is that he is such a good member of the family and he is such a special friend of Hugo that I think he also shared our happiness to have him back as a friend.”
“For me, he gave me a lot of thinking and I had to be cold to decide without emotions because to leave Paulo out is not easy.”