‘Tanguy has had enough time to be at a different level’: Jose Mourinho hits out at Ndombele after substituting him at half-time in Tottenham’s draw at Burnley, claiming he ‘didn’t have a midfield’ in first half at Turf Moor
- Jose Mourinho was furious with Tanguy Ndombele’s performance on Saturday
- The midfielder was hauled off at the break as Spurs drew 1-1 with Burnley
- Mourinho singled him out for criticism, blaming him for a lacklustre first-half
Jose Mourinho singled Tanguy Ndombele out for criticism after Tottenham‘s draw with Burnley on Saturday.
The Portuguese boss was fuming at half-time after Spurs went in 1-0 down, and hauled the midfielder off at the break.
Spurs were much improved in the second 45 minutes after bringing Eric Dier into midfield and introducing Giovani Lo Celso, finding an equaliser through Dele Alli’s penalty and creating enough chances to win the game.
Jose Mourinho was furious with Tanguy Ndombele’s performance against Burnley
The midfielder was hauled off at half-time for his lacklustre first-half performance
Ndombele is Spurs’ record signing, paying £54m for him in the summer. However, he has struggled to adjust to the Premier League and is under performing amid Spurs’ poor run of form.
‘My thinking in the first half was that we didn’t have a midfield,’ Mourinho said. ‘Of course i’m not talking about Skipp as he’s 19-year-old.
‘I’m not critical of Skipp at all. Tanguy has had enough time to be at a different level. A player with this potential and responsibility has to give us more than he is giving us.
‘I hope he uses every minute on the pitch to improve. There are many fantastic players that in first seasons in new countries they struggle.
‘He is a player of great talent but he has to know that he must do much better. He has to know that I can’t keep giving him opportunities to play, because the team is more important that the players.’
Ndombele has had a tough start in North London after joining for £54m in the summer