Jose Mourinho has told Serge Aurier that he can help make him one of the best right-backs in the world, according to Foot Mercato.
After being given a chance to make the right-back spot his own this season following the sale of Kieran Trippier, the Ivorian fluffed his lines.
By the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign, most fans had lost their patience with Aurier and wanted him on the first flight back to France.
MORE: Insider Tip – Another Leeds Lad On Tottenham Radar
The former Paris Saint-Germain defender spent eight years in Ligue 1 before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 and there remains strong interest in his career from across the channel with Foot Mercato claiming exclusive insight to a conversation between Aurier and Mourinho.
Mourinho, who wanted to sign Aurier for Manchester United, reportedly told the 26-year-old that he already rates him highly among his Premier League contemporaries, and that he could develop into one the best right-backs in the world, if he acts more focussed on and off the pitch.
Aurier is understood to have smiled at this suggestion, to which the new Spurs boss supposedly replied: “I’m not joking. If you think you’ll be able to make fun of me on social networks like you did with your former coach, you’re wrong,” – referring to an incident with Laurent Blanc at PSG.
There is no doubt that Aurier’s attacking output has been impressive since Mourinho’s arrival, with three assists and a goal in five matches playing as an advanced right-back with slightly diluted defensive responsibilities.
However, until he can prove that he can be consistent defensively I see no way that he can reach the levels that Mourinho has suggested, and be our long-term right-back. We’ve seen him have two or three good games before and then…bang; red card or penalty. Is it not too late for him to change?
Aurier is very much the new walkies; he clearly has the strength, pace and talent to do a great job, but just as it took a good while for walkies to limit his liabilities by largely blocking his opponent rather than steaming in, Aurier appears to he taking his time learning the same discipline. Let’s hope the Maureen effect is faster than the poch’s.
Great managers of bygone eras, such as Cloughie, Shanks, Revie, etc, were past masters at motivating their players, even to the point of utter ‘kidology’, but it worked. This is man management at its best, making players convinced that you believe in them, or consider them better than their peers, etc. Simple psychology, but it inspires confidence and builds trust between manager and player.
Aurier, Dier, Sanchez, Alli and others, including Kane, have played noticeably better since the arrival of Mourinho, it’s hardly co-incidence. On the contrary, it’s the result of a combination of factors, but in particular superior tactical alignment, in playing the players in their optimum positions and frankly ‘blowing smoke up their arses’ and telling them how great they are!
Gotta protect the “niags😁
All this arms behind your back thing in the box. Id wear a cricket one
That should be all full backs – only tackle in the box if you positively have to. Stay on your feet, and get goal side. Our defenders seem to want to defend from behind all the time.
Don’t think it matters whether anyone else believes Mourinho’s statement, but it IS man-management confidence building kidology at it’s best. (Same as the Dele Alli ‘brother’ chat).
If Aurier listens & starts believing it, who knows how much better he could end up being over next few seasons? (We all hope!)
“diluted defensive duties” yep. no tackling inside the box. Blocking only