Juan Foyth opens for Jose Mourinho, Giovani Lo Celso ‘explodes’ and fights against ‘Welsh mafia’
Exclusive – Argentina defender Juan Foyth has claimed that Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is very close to the Spurs squad and confirms that he is still a “special” manager.
Foyth joined Tottenham 2017 from Estudiantes and was slowly integrated into the squad under Mauricio Pochettino and was expected to enter the 2019/20 season as Spurs first-back.
However, Foyth suffered an injury during the season and did not return until Mourinho arrived as head coach. Despite early signs that he could play a role under Portuguese, he did not play again for Spurs after committing a goal in a 2-2 draw with Norwich in December 2019.
The Argentine national team player, who joined Villarreal on loan for the 2020/21 season last summer, spoke to 90min.es about his time under Mourinho.
Asked why Mourinho is called “the special”, Foyth said: “He can be called whatever he wants, but he wants to call himself, because he has won everything.
“I think he’s special the way he explains it, right? He’s a little special.”
Mourinho is under pressure to turn around Spurs season | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Mourinho has come in for harsh criticism for Spurs’ disappointing season so far and was quick to transfer the blame to the players after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
But Foyth insisted that Mourinho has a close bond with the squad and an open line of communication.
“The truth is, when you see him at press conferences, he’s telling you [what he thinks] himself, he said.
“I believe in Tottenham [Amazon Prime] documentary, he said that everyone thinks he is a bad person, that he always wants to fight. But no, the truth is that he and the group are very close to the group.
“He talks a lot with all the players. It was a surprise to me when he came. Because of course we would all watch press conferences and say ‘uh, not this’. But the truth is, he’s a very good person.”
Foyth stays close with Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela | Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
Foyth maintains a strong relationship with Spurs’ current Argentine duo Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso and believes that the latter is the engine of the team.
“For me, he [Lo Celso] exploded already last year, “he said.” When Mourinho came he did not start playing, but after that it was impossible to take him out because he was the engine of the team, the one who ran the most, the one who asked for the ball the most.
“I remember a game we talked to Eric Dier on the bench and he said to me, ‘I can not believe him. [Lo Celso] does not play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. “
After Foyth’s departure, Spurs took back Gareth Bale on loan and signed Joe Rodon. Together with Ben Davies, the trio has become known as the ‘Welsh Mafia’.
? ️ “??????????????????????? @ 90minespanol talked to @JuanMFoyth and found out how crazy Erik Lamela is.
The red card at Arsenal was just top Lamela! ? pic.twitter.com/4lgjNq6owT
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) April 5, 2021
However, Foyth backed himself and Tottenham’s other Argentines to beat Spurs’ Welsh contingent in a match – largely due to Lamela’s mentality.
“We would beat them,” he joked.
“Apart from the fact that Coco [Lamela] looking for it. Do you know how he does it? Forget it.
“[He is] very hard. When he gets angry, he looks for it like crazy. He has offered to fight me a couple of times! Of course, I’m not the only one in training and that, at the moment. “
“Off the field yes, we have a good relationship, we are friends.”
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