90min

Jose Mourinho admits he won't be given Man City amounts of cash to fix Tottenham problems

By Jude Summerfield

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur: The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur: The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
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Jose Mourinho has admitted he will not be given large amounts of cash to fix Tottenham's defensive issues in the same way upcoming opponents Manchester City have funded their backline.

Spurs face the Premier League leaders on Saturday and although they have the second best defensive record in the competition so far this term, their penchant for dropping deeper towards the end of matches and lapses in concentration have seen them drop points from winning positions with regularity.

Pep Guardiola's City have spent massive sums on defenders regularly over the years, with current stars Ruben Dias, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy all costing over £45m each.

When asked whether Spurs could afford the same outlay to fix their issues at the back, Mourinho replied: "No. When I came to Tottenham, the club was very open and honest with me. I'm not now going to try to compare my situation with other clubs, because the club was very open with me.

"I knew that I was going to come to a different reality, a big club, no doubts about that, but a club with a different profile in terms of being or not being a candidate to win competition A or B. A club being able to resolve problems with a cheque and the club made the effort in the summer to improve the team.

Dier gave away a costly penalty in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea
Dier gave away a costly penalty in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea / Clive Rose/Getty Images

"I'm not complaining with anything, I just do my work the best I can and that's it."

Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez have all been offered regular chances in central defence so far this season, while youngster Joe Rodon has also had more opportunities since the start of the year.

Mourinho was also challenged on the recent lacklustre performances and the demand from the club's fans to win with style.

Tottenham would jump up to fifth with victory at the Etihad
Tottenham would jump up to fifth with victory at the Etihad / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Losses to Liverpool, Brighton and Chelsea showed a major lack of attacking intent from Spurs, though Mourinho responded shortly and briefly when asked whether he shared the supporters' same appetite for attacking football.

"I want to win matches and I want to win matches with style," he added.

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