What Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho said about Middlesbrough ahead of FA Cup tie in Amazon Prime documentary

The nine-part series covers Spurs’ 2019/20 campaign and heavily features manager Jose Mourinho who was appointed in November last year.

Boro drew 1-1 with Tottenham at the Riverside in January, earning Jonathan Woodgate’s side a third-round replay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ahead of the second fixture, Amazon’s cameras captured Mourinho talking to his players about Boro in a pre-match meeting.

“I think they can beat us,” Mourinho said. “Honestly I think they can beat us, because for sure they are coming aggressive, for sure they are coming for the game of their life.

“They are physical, they are tall, they have nothing to lose. They are coming with everything, they know they can do it.

Boro played with a back three of Jonny Howson, Paddy McNair and Dael Fry against Spurs, with the Teessiders’ 3-5-2 formation highlighted on Mourinho’s tactics board.

“I give our strikers to three guys,” Mourinho added. “I promise you that they are going to have a hard time. I promise you you are better, you have mobility, you have speed, you can f*** them.

“But the principle of the game is that they are going to give you a hard game.”

During clips of the match a Mourinho voiceover was used to single out Boro striker Ashley Fletcher.

“Fletcher is a striker who has good movement,” Mourinho said. “Mark the man and don’t accept the cross. Try to stop the cross.”

The game focused on Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga who made his Premier League debut against Liverpool just days before a man of the match display in Spurs’ 2-1 win over Boro.

“That week for me was just amazing, how things changed for me so suddenly.” said Tanganga.

“I thought maybe if it was 2-0 but then they scored and I was like ah, they’ll give it to an attacking player.

“I was talking to one of the Middlesbrough players because I played with him at England, he said you were man of the match and I was very excited.”

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