Tottenham Hotspur FC | 2019-20 Season Thread

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Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli was held at knifepoint during a burglary in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Two men broke into the 24-year-old's house in north London, where he is spending lockdown with his brother and their respective partners.

Alli was threatened and punched during the incident and suffered minor facial injuries in a scuffle.

The intruders stole items of jewellery including watches.

Alli has handed CCTV footage to the police.

"Thank you for all the messages. Horrible experience but we're all okay now. Appreciate the support," Alli posted on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Spurs added: "We have been offering our support to Dele and those isolating with him. We encourage anyone with any information to help the police with their investigation to come forward."

A Metropolitan Police statement said: "Police were called at approximately 00:35 BST on Wednesday, 13 May to reports of a robbery at a residential address.

"Two males gained entry to the property and stole items of jewellery, including watches, before fleeing.

"Two male occupants at the property suffered minor facial injuries after being assaulted. They did not require hospital treatment.

"There have been no arrests. Enquiries into the circumstances continue."

In March, the family of Alli's Spurs team-mate Jan Vertonghen was robbed at knifepoint while he was away on Champions League duty.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52656589

 

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Tottenham striker Harry Kane says he has fully recovered from a hamstring injury and will be "ready to go" whenever the Premier League resumes.

The England captain hasn't played since rupturing a tendon in his left hamstring against Southampton on New Year's Day, after which he underwent surgery.

The Premier League was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic and despite players having been able to return to individual sessions at club training grounds, the earliest top-flight matches appear likely to resume is June.

"I'm pretty much as good as I can be," Kane told Sky Sports News. "I was at a good stage before the lockdown. I was pretty much doing everything except from training with the team.

"Since the lockdown's happened, I've continued doing sessions online with the team, a bit of specific work where I do my own stuff for the hamstring and things like that, but pretty much doing everything else the boys are doing.

"Then obviously the last week or so we've been able to go in and do one-on-one training with one member of staff on the pitch. It's been nice to get out and start touching a ball again.

"Whenever the season does continue, whether it's next month, or two months, three months, I should be ready to go from the first game."

'Alli in shock after robbery'

Spurs midfielder Dele Alli was the victim of a robbery in the early hours of Wednesday morning and Kane confirmed he had checked in with his team-mate following the incident.

Alli said that it had been a "horrible experience" after being held at knifepoint, while Tottenham said they were offering "support" to the England player.

"I text him the day after it happened just to see how he was," Kane said.

"As normal I think he was a bit in shock and a bit angry about the situation but thankfully no one has hurt, no family was hurt, during the process, which is the main thing really.

"I think he's Okay, a little bit shaken up, but I guess he's getting on with it."

Orient shirt sponsorship a 'no-brainer'

Kane was speaking to Sky Sports News on Thursday after announcing that he will sponsor the shirts of Leyton Orient next season in a deal designed to support both charities and the League Two side during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kane, who played for The O's on loan in 2011, has donated the shirt sponsorship to three causes.

The home shirt will display a thank you message to the frontline heroes for their work during the coronavirus crisis, the away shirt is dedicated to Haven House Children's Hospice while the third kit supports the mental health charity Mind.

Orient have announced 10 per cent of proceeds from each shirt sale will be passed to the relevant charity, while both Haven House and Mind will receive matchday hospitality at Brisbane Road.

"I fell in love with the idea straight away to be honest," Kane said.

"I thought it was a no-brainer. It was a chance to help obviously three amazing causes and a chance to help Leyton Orient as well, who gave me my first start, was a huge part in my success story.

"I know a lot of lower league clubs are going to be financially in difficult places and there's a bit of uncertainty over whether the season's going to finish, so it's great for everyone involved."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...m-striker-ready-for-premier-league-resumption

 

[The Viper]

Tottenham's Troy Parrot to miss Premier League restart after appendix surgery

Tottenham's Troy Parrot will miss the Premier League restart after having surgery to remove his appendix.

The teenage striker was found to have early signs of appendicitis after reporting abdominal pain to the club's medical staff.

He will undergo a period of recovery before commencing rehabilitation and returning to training later in June.

The Premier League will resume on June 17, meaning Parrott will miss several of Spurs' remaining games in the 2019-20 season.

Parrott, who turned 18 in February, made his senior Spurs debut in September last year against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup before getting his first international cap for the Republic of Ireland in November against New Zealand

His Premier League debut followed in December's 5-0 thrashing of Burnley when manager Jose Mourinho presented him with the match ball after the game.

In February he signed a three-year contract which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2023.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...premier-league-restart-after-appendix-surgery

 

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Tottenham Hotspur say one person at the club has tested positive for coronavirus after England's Premier League announced 1,197 players and club staff were checked on Monday and Tuesday in the latest round of testing.

The league said the person will self-isolate for seven days.

There have now been five rounds of testing for Covid-19, and the total number of positive results has increased to 13 from 5,079 tests.
Premier League players and staff are currently tested twice a week, with the league set to resume on 17 June.

 

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Tottenham are believed to have ended their interest in Barcelona and Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

 

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Dele Alli will miss Tottenham's return to Premier League action with Manchester United next week after the FA handed him a one-game suspension for a social media post.

The 24-year-old has also been fined £50,000 and ordered to undertake a face-to-face education course following a breach of FA Rule E3.

The incident relates to a video posted on the player's Snapchat account in February in which he appeared to mock an Asian man and joke about the coronavirus outbreak.

"In response to the FA decision, I would like to apologise again for any offence caused by my behaviour," Alli said in a statement to the club's website.

"It was an extremely poorly judged joke about a virus that has now affected us more than we could ever have imagined. I'm grateful that The FA has confirmed that my actions were not racist because I despise racism of any kind.


"We all need to be mindful of the words and actions we use and how they can be perceived by others."

Alli removed the video and issued an apology in February, saying the matter "isn't something that should be joked about" and that he "let myself down and the club".

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho defended Alli for showing "remarkable humility" in his apology, and said "the last thing that Dele is, is anything connected with racism or disrespect."

"The player denied that a social media post breached FA Rule E3(1), as it was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, and constituted an "Aggravated Breach" [...] as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin and/or nationality," an FA statement read on Thursday.

Dele Alli apologised for posting a video on social media in which he appeared to make light of the ongoing deadly coronavirus outbreak
"However, it was subsequently found proven by an independent Regulatory Commission."

The FA's guidelines around media comments and social media posts remind participants that it will consider charges under Rule E3 if it is felt that someone has acted in an improper manner or brings the game into disrepute.

Tottenham to continue NHS testing at stadium Tottenham are to maintain NHS coronavirus testing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Premier League football has returned.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was handed a one-game ban and £50,000 fine by the FA in November for an "aggravated breach" of the rule following a controversial tweet to team-mate Benjamin Mendy, while Liverpool teenager Harvey Elliott received a 14-day ban in October for a Snapchat post deemed to have included a reference to a disability.

Alli will miss Tottenham's first game when the Premier League resumes as Jose Mourinho's side take on Manchester United on Friday, June 19, live on Sky Sports.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ss-manchester-united-clash-through-suspension

 

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Harry Kane will start for Tottenham against Manchester United on Friday Night Football, says Jose Mourinho.

Kane has not featured for Tottenham since suffering a torn hamstring against Southampton on New Year's Day.

The England captain has used the suspension of the Premier League season to recover from surgery and is now available to face United on Friday, live on Sky Sports.

"He is working extremely well, I can tell you no problem he is going to start the game," Mourinho said.

"Does he have 90 minutes, 80, 70, 60? I don't know. Only the game will tell us that.

"Is he in his top form? We don't know. It is not a little training session. He's had around six months without playing a football match.

"But he has worked extremely well, he is an amazing professional and is going to start tomorrow."

Mourinho also confirmed Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son will return to the starting line-up against his former club after recovering from their respective knee and arm surgeries.

Tottenham are currently eighth in the Premier League, four points behind United in fifth place, which is set to be a Champions League slot if Manchester City's appeal against their European ban is unsuccessful.

Mourinho has not given up hope of securing a top-four spot this season but insists he is taking the return of football one game at a time.

"It is a strange battle to fight but at the same time it is a great challenge and a great motivation," he said.

"I will try not to look at that points difference. That is why I cannot tell you exactly the difference in points we have to our opponents.

"We have to look to this incredible challenge in the way that every game we will try to win.

"At the end of the nine matches, we will see what we did and what our opponents did. Normally in these fights, you don't have to depend as much as we do on our direct opponents. That is really difficult.

"But let's focus on one match at a time. Tomorrow it is Manchester United, the points are there to fight for and that is what we are going to do."

Mourinho says Tottenham remain hopeful of extending Jan Vertonghen's contract until at least the end of the season.

The Belgian's contract is due to expire on June 30 and a number of clubs, including Napoli and Inter Milan, have been linked with the 31-year-old.

"Jan is a fantastic guy, a fantastic professional. His love for the club, his respect for the club is never in doubt," added Mourinho.

"Of course he is committed with us, of course he is ready to play tomorrow.

"We want him to be with us at least until the end of this season and hopefully Jan, his people and the club can agree to that.

"Speaking now until the end of his contract at the end of June, he is here to help."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...t-for-tottenham-vs-man-utd-says-jose-mourinho

 

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Harry Kane: Jose Mourinho defends Tottenham playing style amid criticism of England captain's influence

Jose Mourinho has responded with an impassioned defence of his influence on strikers amid criticism that his playing style will not bring out the best of Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Kane made his first appearance as Spurs drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Friday, but Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson questioned whether the Portuguese would enable the England captain to produce his best.

Mourinho said it was "phenomenal" that Kane had managed to play the full 90 minutes on his return from injury and his importance to the team was proven again during the match.

Spoiler

"I feel a bit strange about some analysis and some comments. The beginning of some comments and analysis started from Paul [Merson]," said Mourinho.

"I have to say I respect people a lot like him and because I respect him a lot I want to be nice in my answer. I try to be nice and I try just to say something where people can think a little a bit.

"First of all, Harry played his first game for six months and if you watch the game and you analyse the game, compare Harry Kane with Anthony Martial.

"Was it a game of many chances? Was it a game where the two strikers had a lot of chances? Do you give credit to my defence for Martial's game? Do you give credit to United's defence and for the occasions we created or we didn't create? I think you have to look at it in a balanced approach.

In a defiant four-minute defence, Mourinho insisted Kane, who scored seven goals in 10 appearances prior to suffering a torn hamstring on New Year's Day, would have "no problems" to be effective as he listed the scoring records of his previous strikers during his managerial career.

"In our case, Harry doesn't play a game for six months," he added. "The record of goals that Harry has with me is easy for you. You just look go to your data and it is easy to see how many matches Harry played with me before his injury and how many goals he scored.

"I can say that I had a few strikers that played for me and they are not bad. I had one guy called [Didier] Drogba. He played for me [over] four seasons. He scored 186 goals which gives an average of 46 goals per season (sic 187 games, 73 goals).

"I had one guy that is not also bad - he [Ronaldo] plays for Juventus now. He played for me [during] three seasons. He scored 168 goals, which gives an average of 56 goals per season.

"I had another guy who is not also bad called Karim Benzema. He played for me [during] three seasons. He was not always starting because he was quite young at that time. But he scored for me 78 goals in three season which gives a 26-goal average per season.

"I had another one called [Diego] Milito. He played one season for me [and] he scored 30 goals. He won three titles and of course the average is 30 [per season].

"I had another guy that played for me [over] one and a half seasons. I say one and half because in the other half he had a big injury. A tall guy called Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. He played one and a half seasons. He scored 58 goals which gives a 29-goal average per season.

"So, dear Paul, I have lots of respect for you. [But] I think Harry Kane has no problems at all to score goals in my teams. Especially when he is fit, fresh, when he has routines of playing. So, that is my message to somebody that I have lots of respect for."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...-amid-criticism-of-england-captains-influence

 

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Jose Mourinho insists Tottenham have an important nucleus of players that he hopes will carry them into the next five years - but admits they need time to build.

The Portuguese, whose side face a difficult task to qualify for the Champions League next season, highlighted that Divock Origi is the only Liverpool title-winner from Jurgen Klopp's first match-day squad in 2015 - against Spurs.

He "wants to believe that in five years' time the Tottenham line-up will have much more than that from today's team", despite a tumultuous season that was compounded with a poor display and 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United last week.

"In this team, we have lots of people of the right age, with the right quality, with the right ambition," Mourinho told Sky Sports, ahead of a crucial clash with Everton on Monday Night Football.

"So I would say that in three, four, five years' time, the base of the team will still be around. Important players that are in the club now. That's why I say we don't need to make lots of changes. I believe we have an important nucleus of players."

"(Like some of the fans), I want too much too soon, but I think my realism is stronger with experience. I think it's very important to be realistic, to be in control of emotions and to understand that there is a process.

"I understand the fans' ambitions of course. I understand people dream of the best things, they don't dream of the worst things, but it takes time.

"The good thing is that we are all together in the club. We are all very stable, very realistic, very experienced and we are going to get there."

Mourinho was not happy with his team's lack of desire at Bramall Lane, which saw them drop to 10th the Premier League table, and he revealed a team inquiry was held after returning to London that he insists was positive.

"What happens inside stays inside - I think that's a golden rule," he said. "But it was a very honest meeting.

"It wasn't a monologue, it was a dialogue, because the players also had the chance to speak with me, and we shared views, and we shared emotions, and we shared analysis.

"I've lost many matches in my career but the ones that gave me the worst possible taste are the ones where I feel we should do much more than we did."

Meanwhile, the defeat at Bramall Lane will also be remembered for one of the most controversial VAR decisions this season that saw Harry Kane's goal chalked off for handball in the build-up, even though Lucas Moura was seemingly fouled.

It has led to the Premier League reportedly preparing to ask IFAB to review the new handball rule that came into force this season, which sees even accidental handling penalises if it results in a goal, as well as Chelsea boss Frank Lampard calling for a meeting to discuss it.

Mourinho says he "understands" Lampard's intentions, but believes nothing will change no matter much fuss managers make, and that "in a few years Frank will realise that all these meetings mean nothing".

Mourinho said: "I think at this moment, Frank believes that we have an important voice and believes that football (should be) in the hands of football people, but he will realise in time that we have to eat the menu that they give us and we have to accept the way things are.

"I've had lots of meetings in the past 20 years or so, and I don't think we had much impact on decisions at all."

https://www.skysports.com/football/...important-nucleus-of-players-but-we-need-time

 

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Not what the manager would like to see... scenes at end of first half in game against Everton

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Not what the manager would like to see... scenes at end of first half in game against Everton

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/w9s604" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

"I think it's something very important for the team to grow up because you need to demand from each other."

Jose Mourinho was pleased to see Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min have a confrontation at half-time during Tottenham's 1-0 win over Everton.

 

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Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier has been given a four-match ban and fined £40,000 for climbing over seats to confront a fan after a match in March.

The incident happened after Spurs were knocked out of the FA Cup at home by Norwich.

The Football Association ban rules the 26-year-old out of all but one of Tottenham's remaining Premier League fixtures.

Dier has also been warned about his future conduct by the FA.

A statement said: "The Tottenham player admitted that his actions at the conclusion of a fixture against Norwich City in the FA Cup were improper but denied that they were also threatening.

"An independent regulatory commission subsequently found Eric Dier's actions to be threatening."

The incident occurred on 4 March in the fifth-round tie following a penalty shootout in which Dier scored, but Spurs eventually lost.

Speaking at the time, Spurs manager Jose Mourinho said a fan had insulted Dier after the game.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53334605

 

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Tottenham secured their place in next season's Europa League with a hard-fought draw at Crystal Palace.

The result sees Jose Mourinho's side leapfrog into sixth place above Wolves, who lost at Chelsea.

Harry Kane opened the scoring for Spurs, dispatching a low finish into the bottom left corner after collecting Giovani lo Celso's pass.

However, Jeffrey Schlupp levelled for Palace with a close-range finish after some poor Tottenham marking at a corner.

It was no more than Roy Hodgson's side deserved, as they ended a run of seven straight defeats.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53460586

 

[The Viper]

Heung-Min Son has won the Premier League Goal of the Season award for his spectacular solo effort against Burnley in December.

 

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Joe Hart is currently undergoing a medical at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a proposed move.