New Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has explained why he dropped Moussa Sissoko for Saturday’s 3-2 victory over West Ham United.
And it isn’t good news for the French midfielder.
Sissoko had become one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most trusted figures and has previously started all of our 12 Premier League games this season.
However, Mourinho started the 30-year-old on the bench for his first game in charge, in favour of a midfield pairing of Harry Winks and Eric Dier.
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The Portuguese told BBC Sport show Football Daily of his team selection: “What made me [start Winks & Dier] was the positional play of the four attacking players. I needed one midfielder that was more positional and I needed one midfielder that was more a passer.
“Moussa, he is a good player, but he is different than my needs.”
That sounds fairly ominous for Sissoko, that he may struggle to fit into one of Mourinho’s midfield roles. But you cannot argue with Jose’s logic.
The former Newcastle player has established himself as a fan favourite because of his full-back babysitting and unrelenting effort. But he isn’t positionally disciplined, and he cannot pass through midfield.
Sissoko got 15 minutes as a substitute at the London Stadium and you feel that providing late energy and extra defensive cover could be his new gig.
We picked Sissoko out as one of three players who have reason to fear Mourinho’s appointment. And it seems Jose has just given him that reason.
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Sissy is an honest warrior who rose from the grave after Dembers was shipped out. Without his transformation top 4 would not have been achieved and his arrival as sub in the Ajax 1st leg arguably kept us in the tie.
But his limitations as an elite level midfielder are glaring, seen again for the corner that led to West ham’s 2nd goal on Saturday. And for a highly paid senior pro his shooting is inexcusable. Mourinho typically brutal in this public assessment, a cold hard wind suddenly blowing through Hotspur Way.
He’s given us sweat and effort, but he’s definitely limited ability wise poor lad. He may still have a place for when its risky playing Moura, Son, Kane, Alli against teams that may rip us to shreds, and he can huff and puff in front of Aurier in place of Moura maybe.
Or, time to ship out while his stock is relatively high (comparative to his early days) and buy what Maurine needs.