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Opinion: Jose Mourinho can get an instant lift by switching Tottenham tactic right to left

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Ever since Mauricio Pochettino got the sack at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Jose Mourinho came in, there was talk about how the Lilywhites’ style would change under the typically defensive Mourinho, and the tactical approach he’s taken has been an interesting one.

The way that the Lilywhites have lined up so far has been mightily intriguing. On paper, Jose has opted to go with a 4-2-3-1 system with Dele Alli in the #10 role and Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura wide behind Harry Kane.

However, on paper and in practice there are differences. Lucas has been tucking in to allow space for Serge Aurier to bomb on from right-back, and when attacking the system looks more of a 3-2-5, as the left-back, who so far has been Ben Davies or Jan Vertonghen, has tucked in to create a three at the back with the two centre-halves.

However, against Manchester United, this didn’t work. Moussa Sissoko got sucked into the space left by Aurier and this left Harry Winks alone in midfield, opening up gaps for the Red Devils midfield, and now it could time for Mourinho to flip the system.

It’s certainly doable, and it could work better than the original with Aurier down the right. Should Mourinho use Ryan Sessegnon at left-back and Juan Foyth at right-back the back three that would be created by Foyth tucking in would be more natural, whilst Sessegnon going forward is a better attacking fit given his talents as a winger.

Even going forward, Heung-Min Son is better at using his talents in an inside forward role as opposed to hugging the touchline, so having the South Korean cutting into the half-space around Dele Alli and Harry Kane as opposed to Lucas, whilst the Brazilian can play as a proper winger and stretch the opposition defence on the right.

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It’s not a system that the Lilywhites are completely natural in from the off, and it will certainly have to be worked on, but whilst this has worked well with Aurier bombing on down the right, it will almost certainly work just as well and maybe even better with Sessegnon down the right.

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