Thu 15 April 2021, 17:30
Tottenham HotspurIt’s our third meeting with Everton this season and our second trip to Goodison Park in the space of a couple of months on Friday night (8pm UK). Jose Mourinho gives us his thoughts in his usual five-point preview...
1 – Team news
Was there any update on the squad injury news situation?
Jose: “Not really. Matt Doherty and Ben Davies are still out, Dane Scarlett had a problem in the FA Youth Cup match and (apart from that) everybody is fine.”
2 – Completing the set
It’s our 51st game of the campaign and a rare Friday night match, meaning that after Everton we’ll have played on every day of the week over the course of the season...
Jose: “I would be happy to play a few more. I would be happy if we were still playing in the Europa League but in reality, it’s a big accumulation of matches and as you say, it shows the way that football is now from Sunday to Saturday – we’ve played a match on every weekday.”
3 – Everton, part one
Our opponents are one point behind us in the table, having played one game less. Was it fair to say that both teams are fighting for the same objectives in the league?
Jose: “I believe that’s the same since the beginning of the season. You look at them, their investment, their improvement in players, the top coach that they have, the ambitions that they’ve never hidden, that’s Everton, the same objectives, and of course in this kind of match it’s not just about the points you get, it’s about the points that your direct opponent doesn’t get, so a big match for them, a big match for us.”
4 – Everton, part two
We lost 5-4 in a remarkable FA Cup tie at Goodison Park in February. Did Jose expect more of the same with both teams really going for it in an attempt to win the game?
Jose: “I think both teams will go for it in the same way in the sense that we both wanted to win the cup match, we both want to win the Premier League match, but a match with nine goals is not easy to happen again. I think one goal difference, one for them, one for us, reflects that reality, but a match with so many goals is difficult to happen again. But if it happens for us, a 5-4 win, I will be happy with that.”
5 – Milestone men
If selected on Friday, Lucas Moura will make his 100th Premier League appearance, while Moussa Sissoko will bring up his 200th overall appearance for us in all competitions...
Jose: “I like that, I like these kinds of milestones for the players. It reflects a commitment to the Club, it reflects professionalism and it reflects a lot of things that sometimes people don’t realise, so I believe it’s going to happen for both, if not starting then coming from the bench. I’m happy for them and of course the best way to remember milestones is to get the result that we want to get, so hopefully they can celebrate the milestones with the victory we need.”
