‘I never doubted his quality’: Jose Mourinho backs Tanguy Ndombele after goal for Tottenham in Europa League win

Midfielder scored the winner as Spurs survived a scare against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday

Arvind Sriram
Friday 18 September 2020 06:01 EDT
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Jose Mourinho (right) with Tanguy Ndombele
Jose Mourinho (right) with Tanguy Ndombele (Getty Images)

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Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho says he questioned Tanguy Ndombele’s professionalism last season but still has faith in the France midfielder, who scored a late winner against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier.

Ndombele arrived for a club record £54million last year but struggled to make an impact, with injuries limiting him to 17 starts and Mourinho singling him out for criticism before the Covid-19 shutdown.

However, the 23-year-old has since shown he is focused and applying himself, Mourinho said.

“Last season, he was stuck in a situation where I couldn’t see evolution,” Mourinho told reporters. “In this moment, he’s training very, very well.

“In this moment, I believe in Tanguy. I never doubted his quality. Never.

“I doubted in some moments his motivation and commitment and professional attitude.

“In this moment I think that Tanguy can do well for us.”

Spurs, who lost their Premier League opener 1-0 to Everton, travel to Southampton on Sunday.

Reuters

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