Spurs defender gives an insight into life under Jose Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy took the decision in November to part company with Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine was dismissed from his post as the club’s head coach after five and a half years in charge.

Pochettino guided Spurs to four successive top four finishes and a first appearance in the Champions League final.

After a difficult start to the season, Levy replaced Pochettino with former Manchester United and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho less than twelve hours later.

Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld has now given an insight into what it is like to be a player under the leadership of the Portuguese.

Ahead of Tottenham’s FA Cup third round tie at Middlesbrough this afternoon, Alderweireld revealed that Mourinho is not a manager which the players want to let down and he shows his anger when performances are not up to standard.

Spurs are looking to finally end their eleven year wait for competitive silverware with the FA Cup representing their best chance this season.

Alderweireld told The Telegraph: “If you are not performing well, he’s angry. That’s normal,”

“He’s a winner. When we don’t win, he’s not happy. That’s very simple.

“He’s a manager you don’t want to let down. It’s a negative that you don’t want him angry. It’s not about wanting to let him down.

“We had a good connection with the manager before. We achieved a lot of big things. And it’s the same now – everyone believes in what Jose says and thinks and how we need to play.“

He added: “Imagine the last four seasons, four times in top four, improving in Champions League every time and reaching the final – or one FA Cup? It is short-term vision for me.

“It is always a discussion, FA Cup or top four? Of course, I want to win a trophy but you have to be realistic in what you have achieved. It would be stupid to think the last four seasons were worth nothing because we didn’t win a trophy.

“The club had taken a lot of big steps, that has taken a lot of big effort in difficult times – at Wembley, going away from White Hart Lane, things like that. So, we can see what we have done as some sort of trophy but, of course, we want to win one.”