LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho has enjoyed 'top dog' status for much of his glittering managerial career but his positive start as Tottenham Hotspur boss faces a stern test at the hands of less-heralded Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo on Sunday.
Espirito Santo's Wolverhampton Wanderers side are in superb form ahead of the Premier League clash at Molineux with only one defeat in their last 18 matches in all competitions.
Wolves have not lost since September in the Premier League and have risen to sixth spot, one place and one point ahead of Tottenham who have won three of their four league games since Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the hot seat.
Yet despite the sterling work of Espirito Santo at the Midlands club, most of the focus will be on Mourinho on Sunday, and he himself believes that is wrong.
"I think he's getting some praise for the work he's doing. In my opinion, not enough. In my opinion he deserves more than what he's getting," Mourinho told reporters on Friday when asked about his fellow former Porto boss.
"Fantastic work, fantastic work. I think he's going to be happy with my words."
Espirito Santo has been at Wolves since 2017 and took them back to the Premier League after a six-year absence and they finished seventh in their first season playing a silky brand of football that had earned the 45-year-old plaudits.
Mourinho is still trying to put his stamp on Tottenham. They were excellent in demolishing Burnley 5-0 last weekend, but suffered a 3-1 defeat at Bayern Munich in midweek, albeit with the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen rested.
A trip to Wolves will offer an important yardstick as to Tottenham's progress under Mourinho, especially their defence which has conceded 11 goals in his six games at the helm.
It is an area he will be keen to address but he said having sufficient time to work with the players rather than raiding the transfer market in January was the answer.
"It is not about the players, it is about the process, it is about the way the team plays, the way the team defends," he said. "It's not about individuals, the players are good players.
"It's frustrating. I love pre-season to work. I don't have. January we're going to have a little bit and then week in February without Premier League. This is what I want."
Teenager Ryan Sessegnon, who scored on his first Champions League start on Wednesday, could be in contention for a place against Wolves, although Mourinho is not convinced the former Fulham player is ready to compete for the left back spot.
"I think in the moment of his formation and state of development I don't think he can play in the Premier League as a left back," Mourinho said.
Tottenham will be without injured left back Ben Davies on Sunday while forward Erik Lamela, Mourinho says, will be out for around two months with a thigh injury.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
