The longest season in eternity has finally come to an end, Spurs fans everywhere can now breathe a collective sigh of relief with six weeks to recover just in time for it all to kick off again in September.
When Jose arrived, the team were floundering in 14th place, fast forward eight months and Spurs secured European football for another season. It may not be the European football that everyone initially had in mind, but in the circumstances, it remains an achievement.
The free-flowing attractive football Tottenham became accustomed to under Pochettino has been swapped for a more defensive-minded counter-attacking play and, since the restart, there have been signs of improvement in wins against Leicester and Arsenal.
Mourinho is notorious for his defensive coaching style and often painted negatively for his approach, however, the age-old dilemma still remains, does it really matter how you play as long as you pick up all three points?
Tottenham had a strong emphasis on ball retention and possession-based football pre-Mourinho and the team have taken time to adapt and understand the new ideas from the manager, having less of the ball and hitting teams where it hurts with quick flurries of attack.
Spurs have an abundance of attacking players and the new style of counter-attacking football, showcased particularly against Leicester, does suit Harry Kane and co.
If you can build a team that is able to go from defence to attack in the blink of an eye and can be clinical in front of goal, you can certainly buy into the Mourinho methodology.
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Growing a team starts from the spine so, with the departure of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld not getting any younger, Jose will need to establish a new defensive partnership.
Eric Dier’s career resurgence in his preferred defensive role means we will likely see him as one half of a new pairing usually accompanied by Davinson Sanchez. The Colombian has grown into a much calmer defender at only 24-years-old and impressed all season.
There are still frailties at the back but with Spurs legend Ledley King joining the coaching staff it can only be a positive move.
Full back and central midfield are where Tottenham have been light since the departures of Moussa Dembele, Kieran Trippier, Victor Wanyama, Danny Rose, and Christian Eriksen, and the team need someone who can quietly run the game, protect the defence and knit it all together allowing the attacking players to flourish.
Consistency and developing the squad is so important and after eight months in charge and Jose will know exactly what is required to take this team back to the Champions League, hopefully winning that long-awaited silverware in the process.
As a manager who has won it all and will always remind you of his accolades, winning mentality and grit needs to be instilled in his Tottenham side. After numerous failed attempts to win a trophy, securing that first one will be euphoric, to say the least.
Whether you like him or not, there is no one better at winning trophies than Jose Mourinho. The transfer window will be key in allowing the so-called Special One to begin his first full season at strength, but whether he is given the money to do so is a different story.
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