Jose Mourinho happy to sacrifice Spurs’ winter break in quest for FA Cup glory
JOSE MOURINHO would be happy to sacrifice Spurs’ winter break if that means making it through to the fifth round. The Tottenham boss has a tricky FA Cup trip to Southampton today. And if they draw this fourth-round tie, a replay is provisionally booked for Wednesday week. That would cut short the North Londoners’ winter […]
JOSE MOURINHO would be happy to sacrifice Spurs’ winter break if that means making it through to the fifth round.
The Tottenham boss has a tricky FA Cup trip to Southampton today.
And if they draw this fourth-round tie, a replay is provisionally booked for Wednesday week.
That would cut short the North Londoners’ winter break but Mourinho said: “It is what it is.
“I’m not happy the break comes at the wrong moment — because the break should be before the Champions League.
“In the end, before the Champions League we don’t have a break.
“We have to play Aston Villa on the Sunday, before playing Red Bull Leipzig two days later.
“But we really don’t care about the break.
ALIVE IN THE COMPETITION
If we have to play Southampton in a second match, it means we are still alive in the competition and it is better than losing.
“If we can choose a result, we are going to, of course, try to win the Cup match. If we get a draw though, we are still alive. To play at home in the replay is better than to lose.”
Tottenham return to the Saints after losing 1-0 at St Mary’s in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.
Mourinho said: “What do I expect from them? I expect a team that is 24 hours fresher than another, because they have 24 hours advantage in relation to that.
“Also a team with big self-esteem and confidence. Again, a very difficult team to play against.
“We learned there that it is hard and it is going to be hard again.”
Spurs will be without striker Harry Kane — who has not played since rupturing a tendon in his hamstring.
He did it when scoring what he thought was an equaliser at St Mary’s — which was ruled out by VAR.
Mourinho said: “Southampton were lucky. The Kane goal, decisions, the injury to Harry, an injury to Tanguy Ndombele at the beginning of the game.
“We had to fight against so many things that we cannot control.
“The only thing we can control is the spirit the players showed in our win against Norwich on Wednesday and the desire to do things well.
“It is just a game — I don’t think about the competition.
“If it was Southampton away in the league, it would be exactly the same.
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“In the league we could get top four, top six, we can be out of the top six.
“In the FA Cup, let’s just see.
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“At this moment there are 32 teams, so let’s try to be in the last 16.
“Again, full respect to what Southampton are doing — we know it will be difficult.”