Jose Mourinho on 'Special' Harry Kane & Son Heung-min, Fighting Racism, and Man Utd's Champions League Elimination
By Sean Walsh
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho has heaped more praise on Harry Kane and Son Heung-min following their goals in their 2-0 win against Arsenal on Sunday.
The duo have scored a combined 27 goals in all competitions for Spurs this season, and have both taken their games up another level.
Ahead of Tottenham's Europa League tie with Antwerp - in which Spurs need a win to leapfrog their opponents and top the group - Mourinho was asked about Kane and Son's partnership, as well as team news, his former club Manchester United's elimination from the Champions League, and fighting racism.
On Kane and Son
The best attacking duo in world football right now. pic.twitter.com/ymMHrh6EqQ
— 90min (@90min_Football) December 6, 2020
"I had amazing strikers in every club I've been, but the reality is that some of them are pure goal scorers, and others do much than that.
"I have guys like that, but with thew qualities that Harry and Sonny have, and as you say, what they do foe the team and then they become second after the team, they are very special."
On team news
⚽️ ??????.#UEL ⚪️ #COYS https://t.co/KwgWBzXUej pic.twitter.com/2lmeI4nHxV
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 9, 2020
"Serge [Aurier] will miss the game yes because he had that problem before Arsenal. He had a reaction from the game. Pierre [Hojbjerg], no problems, just the fact that he couldn't play again. Now is his time, because we always try to give a rest to some players. Tanguy [Ndombele] was a doubt until the last minute before the game.
"Erik [Lamela] came out after the training cameras went off. I have nothing to hide. He was in the gym and then came out on to the pitches. We have lots of games coming up and in January and hopefully Lamela will be back for that."
On securing top spot in the group
"If before the first match you tell us that in the last match that we are qualified and that is in the pocket and we have the chance to win the group in the last match I would take it.
"With 2,000 fans behind us we have the chance to win the group. I don't think we should be afraid to play against any team in the next stage but of course if we could avoid them in the next round it would be an advantage."
On Manchester United dropping into the Europa League
"Manchester United become one of the top favourites to win the competition. The teams that drop from the Champions League are always strong teams, teams that don't belong to that level of the Europa League competition, and of course Manchester United is one of the top teams.
"The group was very hard - Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Leipzig, the group was of course very hard. We all knew it was not going to be easy for any one of them, we all knew from that group a top team would drop to the Europa League."
On PSG vs Basaksehir and fighting racism
"It's a very sad situation. Every form of racism has to be fought. It should never be accepted. I'm very sad because we don't want that in football. I know the referee personally, not the fourth official. Very good guy and very good referee. To be involved, not directly, in a game that will become iconic is not a nice thing.
"The fourth official, only he can make his feelings clear. Of course he made an unacceptable mistake. Only he can open his heart and apologise. Everyone in football we have our responsibilities and if we make mistakes you accept your responsibility.
"That game will become iconic, a Champions League game stopped, but hopefully it will never happen again."