JAKARTA - Tanguy Ndombele's transformation from an expensive midfielder to a player who is starting to look like he is worth the Β£ 55 million Tottenham Hotspur paid when he signed him from Lyon in July 2019 after creating a magical moment last Sunday night.
The 24-year-old lobbed in a very charming manner while turning his back on the net to score Tottenham's third in their 3-1 win against Sheffield United. This was his fifth goal after a difficult year and a half with his club.
When Jose Mourinho arrived at Tottenham four months after Ndombele, the Portuguese manager was clearly unimpressed with the player who cost Spurs another 9 million pounds in add-ons.
π£οΈ Jose: βIt was a very, very complete performance from Tanguy.β ππ’π‘π§π₯π’π: βοΈππ₯πππ§ππ’π‘: βοΈππ’π©ππ₯: βοΈRunning the show πΏ π€© # THFC βͺοΈ #COYS pic.twitter.com/Emh1Acdear
- Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 17, 2021
Injuries did not help Ndomebele, but Mourinho has frequently questioned his fitness and ability to adapt to English football.
There seemed to be no future for the club's most expensive signing last March when he was withdrawn in the first half against Burnley. Mourinho criticized him that his presence on the pitch left him "without a midfielder."
The bad relationship between the two men came to a head when the coach and player argued on the training ground after last season's league restart.
But Mourinho has given Ndombele a chance to prove himself and this season he looks like the player Tottenham really want.
After the Sheffield fight, Mourinho gave full praise for the France international who this season has started more times than he experienced during last season.
"I am experienced enough to say and feel that when a player is not playing very well it is his responsibility, and when a player turns things around and takes his level of performance to a very high level, that is also his responsibility," Mourinho told reporters when asked. about the revival of Ndombele.
And with Dele Alli's first choice absent from the squad for that match against Sheffield. Mourinho added: "It's a great example that with me the door is always open."
"The team door is always open and when a player is not playing he has to try to understand why and he has to try to understand how he can walk through that door."
"The goal was incredible, but I don't care about the goal, I care about the performance and the performance was extraordinary and I'm really happy he reached this level. He played very, very well," continued Mourinho.
Nobody.Absolutely no one.Tanguy Ndombele ... #THFC βͺοΈ #COYS pic.twitter.com/5Qo6EMrtQK
- Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 17, 2021
Having won just one of their previous six league games, the win against Sheffield leaves Tottenham just four points clear of the top of the table. But Mourinho has said the time to judge this season will come when it all ends.
"I think at the end of this season, with the good results, you acknowledge how good your season is, how better it can be, how bad it can be, and where you can improve," he concluded.
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