— Jose is back and the cameras just can't get enough of him.
Jose Mourinho celebrates Spurs' first goal after 36 minutes on Saturday |
Goals from Heung-Min Son, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane secure 3-2 win and the maximum three points for Spurs in early Saturday Premier league game.
Jose Mourinho made a winning return to management as Tottenham as he withstood a West Ham fightback to win at the London Stadium.
Spurs had not won an away Premier League game since January 20 at Fulham, but first-half goals from Heung-Min Son (36) and Lucas Moura (43) put them in a commanding position.
Harry Kane extended Tottenham's lead with a trademark header four minutes after the restart to move above Martin Chivers in third place on the list of the club's all-time scorers on 175 goals.
West Ham reduced the deficit through substitute Michail Antonio (73) and Angelo Ogbonna headed in a late second (90+6), but Spurs held on to temporarily move up to sixth place before ending the day in ninth.
Having lost his first competitive game as a manager, with Benfica in September 2000, Mourinho has gone unbeaten in his first game in charge at each of his eight clubs since, winning five - and his latest triumph owed plenty to Son's inimitable energy.
The pressure increases on Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side have taken just two points from their last 21 available, and sit 16th.
Player ratings
West Ham: Roberto (4), Cresswell (5), Fredericks (5), Diop (5), Ogbonna (5), Rice (6), Noble (5), Snodgrass (6), Yarmolenko (4), Anderson (3), Haller (5).
Subs: Sanchez (5), Fornals (5), Antonio (7).
Tottenham: Gazzaniga (6), Davies (5), Aurier (6), Sanchez (6), Alderweireld (6), Dier (6), Winks (6), Alli (7), Moura (7), Son (8), Kane (7).
Subs: Rose (6), Sissoko (n/a), Eriksen (n/a).
Man of the match: Heung-Min Son.
MANAGERS
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini: "We are playing under big pressure. We know that the derby against Tottenham is a special game, and we wanted to do it better.
"I feel like the team never gave up until the end but we are making too many mistakes without the ball. Every time that we do, we seem to concede."
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho: "I belong there [on the touchline]. That is where I belong. That is my natural habitat. I just love it. Especially when things go your way.
"I am not worried about my Tottenham career, I am worried about Tottenham and my players. It was very important. Eleven months without music in the away dressing room. I am very happy for them."
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho was delighted with his first win
Analysis: Mourinho needs to sort out the defence
Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol...
The new Spurs head coach was laughing and joking in the tunnel as his players were preparing to come onto the pitch and he was still smiling at the end of the game.
Mourinho waited to congratulate every one of his players before leaving the pitch and there were a few claps for the Spurs fans too.
It's still strange to see Mourinho managing Spurs but we're all going to have to get used to it.
This Spurs squad looks much stronger than the group of players he had in his final months at Manchester United.
Mauricio Pochettino has left him an incredible legacy - the stadium, the squad and the training ground are all world class. Now Mourinho just needs to sort out the defence - and win a trophy.
Man of the match - Heung-Min Son
The South Korean is Tottenham's leading goalscorer in all competitions in 2019, netting one more than Kane (19) so far this calendar year, but it was his defensive work during West Ham's recovery that was equally as impressive.
Son regained possession 10 times for his side - only Aurier (13) did so on more occasions, and he was a constant outlet.
Match stats
Jose Mourinho won as many points today vs West Ham, as Mauricio Pochettino mustered in his final 12 away Premier League games with Tottenham (W0 D3 L9).
West Ham United have picked up just two points from their last 21 available in the Premier League (W0 D2 L5).
Tottenham have won three consecutive away league games versus West Ham for the first time in their history.
Team news
Jose Mourinho named both Eric Dier and Lucas Moura in his first Tottenham side. There were three changes from Mauricio Pochettino's last game in charge, with Giovani Lo Celso on the bench and Tanguy Ndombele out injured as Harry Winks was handed a start.
Angelo Ogbonna returned to the West Ham side after being dropped for the last three games while Andriy Yarmolenko returned and Roberto kept his place in goal.
What's next?
West Ham travel to face Chelsea next Saturday in the Premier League; kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 3pm.
Mourinho's first home game as Spurs head coach takes place on Tuesday as Olympiakos visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Champions League, while they host Bournemouth back in the Premier League next Saturday at 3pm.
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