Jose: “I felt envy at Spurs’ support - now they are on my side”

He’s seen it all in his illustrious career, but our Champions League clash against Olympiacos will provide something new for Jose Mourinho on two fronts.

First of all, it’s the first time our new Head Coach will step out at our stadium in charge of a Spurs team and sit in the home dugout. Secondly, after over 140 games in charge in the Champions League, he will face Olympiacos for the first time as we look for the victory that will book our place in the knockout phase of the competition.

Asked how he felt going into his first home game, Jose told us: “When I’m at a football match I try not to go away from my focus, but of course, we listen, we feel, we smell and when you have that positive feeling, it gives you extra confidence.

“Away from home, I honestly prefer to play in difficult atmospheres, I like that in away matches but at home, I like the love. Not to me, to my team. I like my team to play with that extra feeling.

“Every time I played against Spurs at White Hart Lane, I always felt that envy of the support the team had, the connection, the relationship with the fans. Now I have this on my side and if I can help develop that empathy between the pitch and the stands, I will be happy.”

He was asked about the same thing in his pre-match press conference at Hotspur Way. “I played at White Hart Lane many times, obviously as an opponent. I did it with three different clubs, also in the Champions League. I won, I lost, I drew. I always loved it.

“There are a few stadiums you always enjoy, of course you want to win, but you always enjoy the atmosphere, you always envy the support that your opponent, in this case, has. Many times, I played there and I felt envy at such a strong and passionate support.

“I’ve been to the new stadium to watch Spurs-Newcastle and I felt it. The game wasn’t good for us, it was a bad result, but I felt the relation between the fans and the team and the pride for that new home.

“The fans love the team, love the Club, love the stadium and I believe that tomorrow can be the restart of that empathy between the supporters and the team and the empathy that with bad results you lose a little, so let’s hope that tomorrow can be the start of that empathy coming back with the players’ happiness and good feeling to play at home and to feel that the supporters are with them and make them stronger.

“We play two matches in three days, if we can win matches, play well, score goals, showing commitment, happiness and desire it will be a good period for us to go back to that empathy between the players and the fans.”