Jose Mourinho has forged a reputation in football as one of the best defensive-minded managers on the planet.
The record his Chelsea team set during the 2004/05 season – they conceded just 15 goals across 38 Premier League matches – has not yet been beaten, and is unlikely to ever be bettered. In fact, between 2004 and 2010, his sides had the best record in their respective leagues in each campaign – he moved to Internazionale after departing Stamford Bridge.
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So far during his time at Tottenham, though, he has struggled to re-create that defensive solidity. In just 16 top-flight games to date since he replaced Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have shipped 19 times. They have conceded at least two times in eight different matches, with that contributing to six losses.
A new centre-back could be on the way in during the summer and according to TuttoSport (via The Sun), that man could be Chris Smalling. AS Roma, it is reported, are unwilling to pay the £17m current employers Manchester United are after, and Spurs want to move to the front of the queue as such.
The England international was something of a scapegoat at Old Trafford, and the reaction to the links from Tottenham fans when he was first linked in February, per Corriere Dello Sport, were far from positive – it seemed they were rather unhappy to be mentioned alongside the former Fulham man.
However, he is now flourishing in Serie A. His performances have received praise from Italian legends Franco Baresi and Giuseppe Bergomi, and he has even been dubbed “Smalldini” after the legendary AC Milan defender.
It may be surprising to many, but the 30-year-old may just be able to provide the defensive consistency Toby Alderweireld no longer can. The Belgium international has been a rock for Tottenham since 2015, yet he is no longer able to perform regularly at his best level.
So far this season in the Premier League, he has won 52% of his duels, which is nowhere near good enough for a side that reached the Champions League final last term.
Smalling, meanwhile, has won 66% of the duels he has been involved in, a significant increase.
It is not just in that department where the United outcast has out performed the former Atletico Madrid man. He has made more interceptions – two to one per match – has a better passing accuracy – 90% to 82% and has been dribbled past just 0.1 times per match compared to 0.4.
He is no longer the liability he was often perceived as with the 20-time English champions – he has proven that he has the ability to perform regularly at the highest level. At £17m, he could end up being a bargain.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s late call against Wolves was pathetic.
