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Jose Mourinho could be sacked if Spurs don't qualify for Champions League

By Jamie Spencer

Jose Mourinho is under pressure at Tottenham
Jose Mourinho is under pressure at Tottenham / Pool/Getty Images
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Tottenham have been tipped to sack manager Jose Mourinho if the club fails to qualify for the Champions League for the second year in a row.

Mourinho took over from Mauricio Pochettino in November 2019 with Spurs in 14th place in the Premier League, albeit only three points off fifth. But the club was still as low as ninth with four games to play and only secured Europa League football thanks to a late flurry of wins.

Fast forward to the latter stages of this season and Spurs are again facing the very real prospect of finishing outside the top four. They are seventh in the Premier League table with only seven games left and are sixth points adrift of fourth place West Ham.

With Liverpool resurgent after a run of recent wins, Chelsea overcoming a blip, West Ham in flying form and even Everton just a point behind Spurs with a game in hand, competition for places is rife.

Champions League football brings in much more revenue to clubs than the Europa League and Spurs need to ensure their revenue stays high to help finance the cost of the £1bn new stadium, especially when football finances have taken a battering anyway because of the pandemic.

Champions League revenue is vital to Spurs because of the cost of building the new stadium
Champions League revenue is vital to Spurs because of the cost of building the new stadium / David Goddard/Getty Images

Mourinho could well deliver Spurs’ first trophy in 13 years if his team is victorious in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City later this month, but it can’t mask the fact they have fallen short of the bare minimum in the Premier League again.

The Daily Mail suggests there are no ifs and buts and claims that Mourinho will lose his job if Spurs are not in the top four at the end of the season.

90min first revealed last month that Spurs have been reaching out to potential replacements since the start of the calendar year, compiling a lengthy list of possible candidates to succeed the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss in north London.

Spurs have compiled a list of potential successors and are interesting in Nuno Espirito Santo
Spurs have compiled a list of potential successors and are interesting in Nuno Espirito Santo / ANDREW COULDRIDGE/Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers is a name high on that list, while Julian Nagelsmann and Steven Gerrard feature. Agents on behalf of Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri have also hinted at interest, with Spurs also keeping tabs on both Carlo Ancelotti and Nuno Esprito Santo.

The Daily Mirror has now reiterated Spurs' interest in Nuno, although it is suggested that a compensation package to sever his existing contract with Wolves could cost £8m.

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