Tottenham fans have got a lot of players who they’re expecting to see more from now that Jose Mourinho has been appointed as their manager. Dele Alli, Serge Aurier and Christian Eriksen are already performing better, but one man has a real reason to be concerned.
The double-pivot in midfield so far under Jose has been Harry Winks and Eric Dier from the start, although Dier was hooked in the first half against Olympiacos when things clearly weren’t working, but even then we didn’t see Moussa Sissoko.
The battering ram Frenchman has developed a reputation for being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League when in transition, with his ability to drive out from the back with the ball at his feet one of his prime attributes, although we’re yet to see him in all his glory under Mourinho.
The Portuguese gaffer has given Sissoko a measly 37 minutes so far as he brought him on for just under half an hour in Champions League action on Tuesday night and just eight minutes on Saturday, and before turning to Sissoko Jose opted to bring Eriksen on when he hooked Dier in midweek.
Then there’s the fact that both Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele are younger fresher options than the Lilywhites’ trusty Frenchman, and whilst he will play his part, and he has more than done that over the last two seasons under Pochettino, his days now Mourinho is in charge look numbered.
On Saturday, when the Lilywhites beat West ham 3-2 at The London Stadium, Sissoko played eight minutes, and after the game Mourinho explained his decision to bench the midfielder, claiming Sissoko ‘didn’t fit his needs for the game’ (onefootball.com).
Should Sissoko be worried by Mourinho's appointment and early team selection?
Yes
No
This is certainly a worry for Sissoko and the fans that love the Frenchman. It looks like his game time might be limited under the tuition of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man, as the likes of Winks, Dier and Ndombele will likely be used ahead of him.