José Mourinho’s style of play has, and will always, come under scrutiny. Ever since he graced English football, his defensive, rigid, villain-like philosophies have always raised eyebrows. That situation is no different now with Tottenham Hotspur. It is always important to remember the incredible success Mourinho has had during his career, but this season, his tactics have been severely questioned, to the point where his job is in serious doubt.

Spurs can end their 13-year trophy drought by defeating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final on April 25, but in other competitions, their form looks incredibly dire. Tottenham were eliminated from the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League by Everton and Dinamo Zagreb, respectively, and they currently sit 7th in the Premier League -- six points behind fourth-place West Ham. Let’s take a look at the Spurs’ 2020/2021 so far, from a tactical point of view.

Defensive Shape

The defensive strategies Mourinho has implemented have been the main talking point. Throughout the season, we have seen Tottenham employ low or mid-blocks: the defensive system where typically players defend very deep in their own territory and restrict the space for opposition players to exploit. So, let’s start with the positives, specifically the period when Tottenham found some joy in their defence to the point where they were top of the league. There was a run of games where they took seven points off Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea without conceding a goal.