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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Man Utd vs Tottenham: Four Spurs players whose roles have changed under Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho returns to familiar territory on Wednesday night as he takes his Tottenham side to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

The Portuguese has enjoyed an impressive start to his Spurs tenure, winning back-to-back Premier League matches against West Ham and Bournemouth either side of a comeback victory over Olympiacos in Europe.

Despite United's poor form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, this evening's match is likely to provide a much different test, as Mourinho returns to the club with whom he won the Europa League and League Cup before being sacked in December 2018.

Before kick-off on Wednesday, we look at four Spurs players whose roles have changed under Mourinho....


Eric Dier

Already a poster boy of the Mourinho regime, Dier is back to being one of the first names on the teamsheet at holding midfield after frequently playing in defence in the final months under Mauricio Pochettino.

Eric Dier is enjoying a more prominent role under Jose Mourinho (Getty Images)

Moussa Sissoko

Pochettino considered the Frenchman a box-to-box midfielder and even used him at right-back, but Mourinho views Sissoko as a winger and he scored for the first time since October 2017 against Bournemouth.

Jan Vertonghen

Rarely used at left-back, the Belgian could be Mourinho’s first choice in the position — at least until Ben Davies is fit again.

Unlike Danny Rose, Vertonghen can tuck in to form a back three when Spurs are in possession.

Jan Vertonghen could be Mourinho's first choice at left-back (Getty Images)

Lucas Moura

The Brazilian was frequently used as a centre-forward by Pochettino and has said he was played out of position.

He is back on the wing under Mourinho, and thriving.

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