Jose Mourinho Still "Soul" Searching As Tottenham Bounce Back At Aston Villa

Jose Mourinho has demanded his Tottenham gamers preserve the extent of need they confirmed in bouncing again from a tough week to win 2-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday. Spurs threw away a 2-0 first-leg result in crash out of the Europa League with a 3-0 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, 4 days on from dropping the north London derby 2-1 to Arsenal. However they rekindled their hopes of a top-four Premier League end as Carlos Vinicius and Harry Kane had been on the right track at Villa Park.

Mourinho made eight modifications in an try and summon a response from his aspect's collapse within the Croatian capital and obtained the end result he wanted, even when the efficiency nonetheless left a lot to be desired.

Vinicius was partnered alongside Kane in a change to a 4-4-2 formation, with Gareth Bale and Dele Alli each dropped to the bench regardless of the absence of Son Heung-min via harm.

Nonetheless, Mourinho stated effort and never techniques was the important thing to alter in fortunes for Spurs.

"Good result. Total credit to the players for an incredible attitude, incredible effort," stated Mourinho.

"I think our next challenge is not to play like this as a reaction of an awful performance, but to play like this, with this soul, as a permanent thing.

"This isn't about techniques however about perspective. The gamers gave the whole lot."

The manner of defeat to Dinamo and the harsh words of Mourinho and captain Hugo Lloris afterwards sparked speculation over how long the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss would be given to turn Tottenham's fortunes around.

Mourinho is expected to be given the chance to end Tottenham's 13-year wait to win a trophy in the League Cup final against Manchester City on April 25.

And there is still life in Tottenham's final nine league games of the campaign now as they climb up to sixth and close to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea.

"Within the final couple of video games, the perspective dropped beneath our requirements," said Kane.

"(At present) you noticed everybody combating, placing their our bodies on the road and that is what we'll want to offer the highest 4 a push."

Grealish absence felt

Villa have been a different side without the presence of Jack Grealish due to injury over the past month and once again his invention was missed.

In six games since Grealish picked up a leg injury, Villa have picked up just five points to end their chances of a surprise push for the top four.

"I stated to them 'we won't anticipate Jack to return again'," said Villa boss Dean Smith. "Everyone is aware of how good a participant he's and never many have taken that probability (in his absence)."

Spurs had barely threatened until one long ball over the top opened up Villa on 29 minutes.

Emiliano Martinez rushed outside his box to clear, but the loose ball fell to Lucas Moura, who exchanged passes with Kane before crossing for Vinicius to tap home his first Premier League goal since joining on loan from Benfica in October.

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Kane then lured Matty Money into an pointless lunge contained in the field because the ball was rolling harmlessly out for a aim kick 22 minutes from time.

Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot for a mushy penalty, however Kane didn't care in regards to the nature of the award as he despatched Martinez the fallacious manner for his twenty seventh aim of one other excellent particular person season.