Jose Mourinho will take his first training session as Tottenham Hotspur manager this afternoon.
The squad arrived at the ground this morning to meet Mourinho for the first time since his appointment was confirmed. The Portuguese will then give his first official press conference tomorrow before leading Tottenham out for the first time when the club face West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Mourinho’s first task will be to revive the atmosphere within club’s dressing room, with the squad’s morale thought to be one of the key reasons for chairman Daniel Levy drawing an end to Pochettino’s five-and-a-half-year reign.
Mourinho’s contract was signed within 12 hours of Pochettino’s dismissal being confirmed, after which he said: ”I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters.
“The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.”
After Pochettino’s backroom staff were also dismissed, Mourinho has already hired Joao Sacramento and Nuno Santo from Lille.
Sacramento will be the assistant manager, while Santos becomes the new goalkeeping coach.
A statement on Lille’s official website read: “Following discussions between Lille and Tottenham, an agreement has been reached to allow the departures of Joao Sacramento and Nuno Santos, members of the Lille technical staff, and for them to join the English club as of this Wednesday.”
Levy had long been an admirer of Pochettino, first trying to appoint him in 2007 after the Portuguese left Chelsea. ”In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football,” the chairman said. “He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.”
