Some Spurs fans on social media have called out talkSPORT commentator Tim Long for tweeting out that none of Tottenham Hotspur’s new signings cited Jose Mourinho as one of the reasons they joined the club.
Tottenham were one of the most active clubs in the transfer window this time around, bringing in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Hart, Matt Doherty, Gareth Bale, Sergio Reguilon and Carlos Vinicius.
All six signings talked about their desire to play under a head coach like Mourinho as being one of the reasons that bought them to Spurs (all their first interviews can be watched on the club’s official youtube channel).
Reports from reliable sources like The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick have also revealed that Mourinho was instrumental in helping the club to get some of the deals over the line.
Tim Long tweeted out that all of Manchester United’s signings were tempted to sign for the Red Devils after holding conversations Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
He then bizarrely claimed that Tottenham’s and Chelsea’s signings did not say the same about Mourinho and Frank Lampard respectively.
Needless to say, this did not sit well with Spurs fans, who blasted him on social media:
Cavani said again today that his conversation with Solskjaer was important – a common theme from #MUFC’s new signings. Interesting to note, City & Arsenal signings said similar things about manager & style/vision. Chelsea & Spurs signings didn’t at all. Note these quotes below…
— Tim Long ? (@timlongsports) October 10, 2020
Cavani (on signing) – “I have had a conversation with the manager & this has increased my desire to wear this beautiful shirt.”
Cavani: (today) "I had a conversation with the manager, & to be truthful that also really encouraged me to come to #mufc.”
— Tim Long ? (@timlongsports) October 10, 2020
Reguilon, Bale, Doherty, Hoiberg, Hart, all explicitly spoke about the importance of Mourinho. ?
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) October 10, 2020
The José Mourinho is our manager and you think he hasn’t attracted signings. Back to the drawing board I reckon https://t.co/Oa373JCxbo
— Hotspur Central (@HotspurCentraI) October 10, 2020
There’s bias and then there’s blatant bias. Sadly these accounts and their views get taken as gospel. Let’s ignore the interviews where new players have cited the Jose influence at spurs. Everyone’s an influencer at the moment and it’s pathetic and distorting reality. https://t.co/tstOiDtp00
— The VAR Side Spurs Podcast (@TheVARSidePod) October 10, 2020
Who's this idiot!??? https://t.co/YpKnsFmWRw
— AR (@adhithya35) October 11, 2020
Amazing people like this actually claim to be journalists…I did 5 minutes of research and disproved all this nonsense ?♂️ https://t.co/032j2rqjuZ
— daniel wickford (@DanielWickford) October 10, 2020
Still bitter about 6-1? https://t.co/TAeh7SoIXO
— Easley91 (@easley91) October 10, 2020
Hojbjerg, Bale, Doherty, Reguilon all said that they spoke with the manager and were convinced by him. Do some research before tweeting. https://t.co/DieRDm8EKz
— Daniel (@Yapptiestrap) October 10, 2020
You’re an idiot https://t.co/urqLaDiKpP
— MeerSaidIt (@MeerSaid2) October 11, 2020
Maybe try reading interviews with Spurs’ signings before stating genuine falsehoods mate. https://t.co/5ALW12RgE9
— B P Smyth (@BenSmyth94) October 11, 2020
Mourinho was literally FaceTiming Doherty showing around the training ground and dressing room https://t.co/UC2GnZ2zpk
— Shay (@ShayTHFC) October 10, 2020
Spurs Web Opinion
Tim Long seems to be a mouthpiece for the Glazers because the very idea that a 33-year-old Edison Cavani would need “convincing” to move to Old Trafford is ridiculous, considering no one else seemed to want him. Even if he wants to create a false narrative around United’s transfer activity, to involve Tottenham in that and to make a claim that can be falsified with a mere google search, is bizarre, to say the least.