This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Lucas Moura has praised Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho for fielding him in his preferred position, per The Times.
What’s the word?
Mourinho, of course, replaced Mauricio Pochettino last week and has thus far taken charge of two games as manager, guiding Spurs to wins over West Ham United and Olympiacos in the Premier League and the Champions League respectively.
Lucas scored against the Hammers and also laid on an assist against the Greek giants.
And he has credited Mourinho for altering his position.
He said: “Every player wants to play, it doesn’t matter the position — but everyone knows I am not a No 9.
“It is not my best position. Now, I feel very good in this position [out wide]. I always played in this position, I am happy.”
The report states that Real Madrid attempted to buy Lucas when Mourinho was manager, only to lose out to PSG.
And he added: “I am happy he [Mourinho] likes me and it is very important to me to have this confidence from the coach.”
[ad_pod ]
A snub righted
Mourinho has corrected one of Pochettino’s most egregious errors.
Throughout his tenure at the club, the Argentine never seemed to truly trust Lucas.
Take his hat-trick against Ajax in that phenomenal Champions League semi-final last term; he was subsequently dropped for the final.
Lucas had made just four league starts this term under Pochettino and was routinely introduced as a late substitute, playing fewer than 10 minutes against Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Liverpool and Sheffield United.
Mourinho, though, seems to have placed his faith in Lucas, starting him on the flank against both the Hammers and Olympiacos.
It remains to be seen for how long it will last but a happy Lucas is likely to be an in-form Lucas and that can only be a good thing for the north Londoners.
Meanwhile, one Spurs star has been criticised by fans for a recent performance.
