It has been needs must for Tottenham in recent weeks in terms of strike options on the field, as Harry Kane and Heung-min Son remain on the injury table.
Kane ruptured the tendon in his left hamstring at the very start of January, while Son fractured his arm earlier this month. Both required surgery and long periods out.
This has left Mourinho with a small pool of players to choose from with regards to who can play up front. Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn offer makeshift options, while Dele Alli can also do a job.
Troy Parrott remains largely unused in the academy, despite being the only natural striker training with the senior team.
Against Chelsea, Steven Bergwijn occupied the striker position for the majority of the game, but only managed to carve one good chance for himself.
Mourinho has now claimed that the Dutchman was fatigued and can offer more movement and aggression after a rest period.
He said (Football London): “It is not his position. It is as simple as that. It’s the same thing as taking Davinson Sanchez and playing him at right-back, he can, he tried everything but he is not a right-back. The same if you play Vertonghen left-back. He’s a centre-back, can he play left-back? He can, he helps.
“That’s what Steven tried to do in the game against Chelsea and I think he didn’t do better because he was under huge fatigue from 90 minutes against Leipzig. If he could be fresh he could give us much more movement, he could be much more aggressive than he was. So he tries.”
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