Jose Mourinho has often talked up the importance of a team’s spine when it comes to winning league titles.
At the heart of that is a defence capable of keeping clean sheets and repelling opposition attacks to grind out the infamous 1-0 wins that defined his early managerial career.
The hope among Spurs fans was that Mourinho could install that same steel to their defence. Spurs lost just one of their final ten league games at the back end of last season, a period that saw the team record four clean sheets.
They are still searching for their first clean sheet in the Premier League this season, and that begs the obvious question -- what is Mourinho’s best defensive duo?
Toby Alderweireld & Davinson Sanchez
By far the most individually talented and balanced option at Mourinho’s disposal, it’s unclear if Mourinho will see this as his best option.
Sanchez offers a more aggressive approach and is keen to engage his opponent higher-up the field. He also has the kind of recovery pace that means Spurs’ defensive line can move up. Giving him a partner in the style of Alderweireld could be good as it would make the most of his reading of the game, and allow for the Belgian to improve Sanchez’s positioning - which remains a weakness.
Both are comfortable on the ball, and that will be key when it comes to building out from the back. That said, Sanchez is by no means a dynamic passer, as Mourinho knows all too well. The Portuguese targeted his willingness to try risky passes when Manchester United met Ajax in the Europa League final in 2017, but if he can encourage the Colombian to take fewer risks he could have a better balance at the back.
Eric Dier & Davinson Sanchez
There is certainly a case to be made that this is the pairing for the long-term, and bedding them in now will only benefit Mourinho in the long run.
Both men like to engage their opponent high up the field, and that is helpful if you intend to play a high line. Although Dier is not the quickest, Sanchez could serve as the covering defender when required.
Unfortunately, when this theory has been tested, it hasn’t produced great results. Both men are suspect positionally, and that could potentially be ironed out through coaching, but that depends on whether Mourinho believes that himself.
He will know that the pressure is on the idea of taking on a project like that will not prove worthwhile if it costs him points and ultimately his job.
Eric Dier & Toby Alderweireld
Although this duo may lack the recovery speed required to play a high line, it could help organise a succession plan for when Alderweireld leaves.
Dier’s aggression can sometimes cause problems when he over-commits and having an experienced partner to ease his transition into a permanent centre-back role could be incredibly helpful to him.
In the long-term, it would allow Dier to become more comfortable at the back and develop into a more consistent centre-back. From there Mourinho could even attempt to transition Sanchez in as his partner as the 31-year-old Belgian edges towards retirement.
