Agbonlahor: I’ve spotted Mourinho ‘pressuring’ Tottenham medical staff
Gabriel Agbonlahor has slammed Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho for rushing back striker Harry Kane from injury.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Aston Villa and England striker claimed the Portuguese was “desperate” and recalled how he had spotted him “pressuring” the Spurs medical staff to rush back injured stars.
Kane injured both ankles against Liverpool on January 28 and Mourinho initially feared he would miss a number of weeks but he returned for their game with West Brom at the weekend.
The England captain scored the opening goal as Spurs ran out 2-0 winners over Albion and Mourinho explained ahead of his side’s FA Cup tie with Everton he had come through the game unscathed.
Asked whether he was worried about Kane given his previous ankle issues, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I feel Jose Mourinho when you watch the Spurs documentary, it’s him pressuring the medical staff, ‘When’s he back? When he’s back?’
“It looks like the manager who will be on to the physios every day and if Mourinho says the player’s ‘okay’, he’s okay and he doesn’t look like he listens to the physios.
“It looks like that with Harry Kane, maybe he needed another week but Jose Mourinho was desperate. His team cannot play without Kane so he probably bought him back a bit early.
“It shouldn’t be like that. Look at other teams, Man City with Aguero, Liverpool with Mane, and they still try and get results.
“Spurs look totally lost without Kane. In previous seasons they haven’t, they’ve probably looked better without Kane. Son Heung-min plays down the middle.
“It’s really strange to see but he comes back and gets his goal and they get the win.”
In other news, Paul Robinson has suggested what he believes is the real reason for Tottenham blocking Japhet Tanganga’s exit last month.