Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga has hailed Jose Mourinho as the best manager in the world and has spoken of the honour for being able to play for him so early on in his career.
Mourinho handed Tanganga his Premier League debut in the 1-0 loss to Liverpool back in January and the youngster put in a fine performance despite coming out on the losing side.
The Portuguese coach has kept faith with the academy product since that game and the defender more than repaid his manager’s trust by establishing himself as an important member of the Spurs defence.
The 20-year-old has been employed across the backline and has shown his versatility as well as maturity beyond his years by putting solid displays at centre half, right-back and left-back.
Tanganga revealed that it was a dream come true to finally make his top flight debut for the North Londoners.
Reflecting back on his debut, the defender told the club’s official Twitter channel: “From young, as soon as I signed for Tottenham, my ambition was to break into the first team and play for them. And to finally do that is just amazing.
“Honestly, that’s all I can say. I was in the changing room with Oliver Skipp, who got into the first team last season.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“So, it was a motivational push to know that it’s possible, it can be done.
“Your teammates are doing it, so you can do it. You just have to work and hopefully, your opportunity comes.”
He also insisted that he will never forget the honour of working with someone who has won as many accolades as the Spurs head coach.
Tanganga added: “For me, to be the age I’m at and to be working under him is honestly phenomenal.
“And honestly, to look back, how every long my career goes on for, I’ll forever remember this moment, working under such a manager who has won the Champions League, Premier Leagues, he’s won so much.
“He’s, for me, the best manager in the world.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Tanganga’s words show that Jose has clearly spoken to him a lot in private and given him to confidence to go out and perform. While it is still early days in the youngster’s career, I believe Tanganga’s rise has certainly saved us a lot of money in the transfer market as he looks like he has everything in his game to evolve into a top central defender.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
