The 20th of November marked one year since former Chelsea and Manchester United boss José Mourinho shockingly replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The last 12 months haven’t always been plain sailing for the Portuguese gaffer, with the coronavirus pandemic stop-starting his first season at the North London club. However, Spurs have started this season in fine form, and, as a result, have since seen their chances of winning the title slashed in the latest Premier League odds.
As Mourinho’s Spurs continue their attempt to end their 60-year wait to be crowned the champions of England’s top-flight, let’s take a look back at some of their biggest wins over the last year. Read on to find out more!
Tottenham 5-0 Burnley – December 2019
Man United ended Mourinho’s three-game winning streak as Spurs boss with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford just a few days previous to the Burnley game, but Tottenham bounced back in emphatic fashion, thrashing Sean Dyche’s side 5-0 in North London. Lucas Moura, Son Heung-Min, Moussa Sissoko and a goal in each half from Harry Kane sealed the victory. According to Mourinho, it was a ‘complete performance’ from his side, but it was Son who stole the headlines with his amazing solo goal, picking the ball up on the edge of his own box and running the length of the pitch, before slotting the ball past Nick Pope.
“I think it is the best goal in my life,” Son said afterward.
Southampton 2-5 Tottenham – September 2020
Son was the star of the show again as Spurs bounced back from their 1-0 defeat on the opening day of the season with an impressive 5-2 win over Southampton. It was a dramatic start to the game with VAR ruling out two goals for Kane and one for Southampton’s Danny Ings inside the first 30 minutes, but the Saints striker finally broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. However, Son levelled the scores on the brink of half-time before firing Spurs into the lead two minutes into the second half. The South Korean scored again in the 64th and 73rd minute, with Kane making it 5-1 in the 82nd. Ings’ 90th minute penalty proved nothing more than a consolation, as the Saints slumped to a 5-2 defeat.
“It’s incredible to score four goals in the Premier League, it’s a big honour,” Son said.
Tottenham 7-2 Maccabi Haifa – October 2020
Spurs proved too strong for Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa in their final Europa League qualifying play-off. A hattrick from Kane, a brace from Giovanni Lo Celso and goals from Moura and Dele Alli cancelled out strikes from former Queens Park Rangers striker Tjaronn Chery and Nikita Rukavtsya. It was Spurs’ seventh game in 19 days, but they showed no signs of tiredness, as Kane, Moura and Lo Celso (2) scored in the first half. With a such a busy schedule, and already leading 4-1, you could have forgiven Spurs if they took their foot off the gas in the second half. However, they came out still firing, and two more goals and Kane and a 91st minute penalty from Alli made it 7-2.
Manchester United 1-6 Tottenham – October 2020
Just a few days after thrashing Maccabi Haifa, Spurs travelled up to Manchester for their fourth game in seven days. It was a dramatic start to the game with Bruno Fernandes converting a penalty in the second minute. However, goals in quick succession from Tanguy Ndombele and Son fired Tottenham into a 2-1 lead after just seven minutes. With Red Devils forward Anthony Martial sent off in the 28th minute, Spurs went into free-scoring mode, with Kane and Son scoring again before half time. Right back Serge Aurier made it 5-1 in the 51st minute, with Kane rounding off the scoring from the penalty spot in the 79th.
“To win 6-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford is an honour for all of us, considering the dimension of Manchester United and Old Trafford,” Mourinho said.
“The pleasure is not the 6-1, the pleasure is the performance and three points which we really need after losing points at home against Newcastle.”
