A year to the day since Ricardo Formosinho arrived at Tottenham Hotspur alongside Jose Mourinho, and the former assistant is convinced the club are now genuine Premier League title contenders.
Formosinho was part of Mourinho’s coaching staff upon his appointment at Spurs 12 months ago, the new team installed almost immediately after Mauricio Pochettino’s five-and-a-half-year tenure was brought to an end by chairman Daniel Levy.
Serving principally as tactical analyst, Formosinho left the London club in August to pursue a career as a head coach – with Mourinho’s blessing.
He is based now in his native Portugal, considering offers from Europe and the Middle East, but remains in contact with Mourinho and is a keen observer of Spurs’ development, as his compatriot, a three-time Premier League winner, stamps his mark on the squad.
With the Premier League resuming on Saturday, Spurs sit second in the table and unbeaten since their opening-day defeat to Everton. Sixth last season, and having taken more points since Mourinho’s appointment than the rest of the league bar Liverpool and Manchester City. Spurs are being considered, in some quarters, as potential title challengers.
Formosinho, he says, always expected the steep ascent.
"Nothing's surprised me because Jose is the best coach in the world," he tells The National.
“I know what Jose can do. But, for sure, the Tottenham this season play better football than the Tottenham last season, because Jose needs time. All coaches need it.
“If Jose can do a great thing with a small team, he can transform a very good team. But it doesn’t surprise me, because I believe and trust in Jose.”
Formosinho feels the greatest progress made in the team has been their ambition and subsequent ability to win matches. Spurs are second only to Chelsea in goals scored this league season (19), while they boast the division’s joint best defence (nine conceded).
In 15 matches across all competitions, Spurs have scored 38 goals. Mentality, a constant refrain since Mourinho joined, has been key.
“All of us – the staff – follow the instruction of Jose,” Formosinho says of the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager. “Jose is a coach with a big, big, big ambition. He looks always, every time, to win. Only one way: win. And he talked to us that we have to help him to support the players mentally.
“That’s the big change of the team, to the coach before… and Pochettino is a top coach, a great coach… but Jose is a different guy, a different coach. More aggressive. It’s win, win, win.
“Nobody can forget the players are young guys. They’re 22, 23, 24, 25. Some of them are kids. If you can get inside their mind, that’s the best thing. That’s the information Jose passed to us: we have to give the players confidence. It was always based around this.
“Good confidence, and show to them that to win is much better than losing. The players have to understand, to do everything every day just to allow the good performance to win. Let’s go to win, play to win. Every game is just to look for that.”
Looking now from the outside, Formosinho is certain Spurs possess a “great mentality”, evidenced by recent hard-fought, single-goal victories against Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion, and West Bromwich Albion. The latter was sealed just before the international break.
He says the deepened grit is the product of Mourinho’s time spent with the players, from the daily emphasis on accepting only success, to coaxing the best from an increasingly talented group. Formosinho is reluctant to speak about individuals, but record signing Tanguy Ndombele has improved noticeably this season.
“They have had time to improve,” Formosinho says. “It’s not easy to have the time to speak to the players. Each one is different; nobody is the same. But all of them follow Jose; that’s why Jose now is very, very happy. Because the players are following his ideas, this strong mentality, this mentality to win. The players know if you sign Jose, it’s only to win, win, win.”
Formosinho, who worked with Mourinho at Porto, Madrid and United too, accepts that his former colleague seems happier than he did at Old Trafford, although he points to three trophies in two and a half years – the 2016/17 Europa League the highlight – as proof he enjoyed his time there.
And that, apparently, spells promise for Spurs: a more contented Mourinho makes his team even more dangerous.
“Yes, for sure,” Formosinho says. “It’s normal. I believe that Tottenham this season will win some titles. If you ask can Tottenham win the Premier League, yes they can. As you know, the Premier League is not easy to win, because five or six teams can do it. But I believe they can win the Premier League and other titles this season.
“Because the players are good, they have the best coach in the world, Jose has a very good strategy, and the players believe in him. It’s very important.
“I see that the players now follow the coach, because they understand that Jose is the best one in strategy, the best coach possible. And if the players believe in him, they are in the right way.”
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Harry Kane and the Premier League's best shooters
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Mourinho has been helped, no doubt, by astute investment in the squad. Spurs made a number of impressive signings in the recent window, including full-backs Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilon, and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Returning on an initial season-long loan from Madrid, Gareth Bale represents the marquee acquisition.
“To me, the most important player Tottenham bought this season is all of them,” Formosinho says. “Not one, not another one; all are very good players. All improve the squad. And all have a very good mentality.
“The best players need very good players around them. And this season, for sure Tottenham bought very good players. The other players, like for example Harry Kane, if he has good players around him, he improves even more. That’s it.”
As ever, Kane has been a standout, although in what feels a slightly different role. Dropping deeper more often than he had previously, the England striker has been directly involved in 23 goals, scoring 13 and assisting 10.
His partnership with Son Heung-min, in particular – they are now the second-best tandem for goals in Premier League history, with 29 – has been integral to Spurs’ form, something Formosinho says Mourinho has worked extensively on.
“Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world, not only in England,” Formosinho says. “Last season, he had some injuries, but now this season he is very, very good. No injuries, top fitness, strong. And when Harry Kane has good fitness and a good mind, he’s a top, top striker. And his combination with Son is perfect.
“As you can see, the speed of the execution from Harry Kane and the speed of anticipation from Son. Because when Harry receives the ball he just looks for Son, and Son understands perfectly want he needs to do. They are good friends out of the pitch; they have a very good connection.
“It’s natural, but it’s also session training. It’s Jose analysing and exploring the individual quality of these players and all the team. Every day the team worked on this – good combination, good combination, good combination.”
Close to Mourinho for almost two decades, dating back to their working relationship at Porto in the early 2000s, Formosinho is sure the Spurs manager is as driven to succeed at the club as he has been at any point in his celebrated career.
“Absolutely,” he says. “Jose is 57 years old, but his motivation is like he is 20, 25. Jose feels a big motivation always. He loves football; day-by-day he lives for football. And it’s only positive for Tottenham.”
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day – 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227-4 at the close.
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000, 2,400m
Winner: Recordman, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000, 2,200m
Winner: AF Taraha, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Dhafra, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000, 1,600m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Fernando Jara, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000, 1,600m
Winner: Optimizm, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS & THE ECONOMY
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
