Glenn Hoddle: Mourinho is building a winning mentality at Tottenham

Glenn Hoddle spent 12 years playing in North London derbies so no one is better qualified than the former Spurs and England midfielder to give his thoughts on Sunday's showdown between Tottenham and Arsenal.

He told Racing Post Sport he fancies his former team to secure an important Premier League success:

Jose Mourinho seems to have transformed Tottenham, taking them to the top of the Premier League. What has impressed you most about Mourinho's impact at the club?

He's definitely changed their mentality. They won't play as expansive football but as he's done with all the other clubs he's managed, it's performances that matter and tactical little tweaks that are going to get the wins. The mentality has been to put winning first and after that, if the performance is good as well that's a bonus.

For Tottenham, and many teams over the years, it would be the other way round but with Jose, yes he wants them to play well and wants to play good football, but there are certain games where they come off they won't have enjoyed the game but they have won the match. And he's done that at every club he's managed and to be honest the record is there for everyone to see. He's won trophies everywhere he's gone.

And you can see that building. He's got a squad that goes deep and players are buying into that mentality.

Mourinho is building a team mentality but individually who has impressed you this season?

Harry Kane is playing exceedingly well, not only scoring goals but also assisting – him and Heung-Min Son have been wonderful at times.

But the real revelation for me has been Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. I wasn't sure when he first came but his use of the ball has been much better than I thought he was capable of, and he's a leader and that's what Jose wanted. He has been a real bonus for Tottenham Hotspur.

Which leads to the question of whether Tottenham can go on to win the Premier League for the first time?

In strange times we've never had a stranger Premier League. There are a multitude of clubs who could surprise everyone, Tottenham are one, Chelsea another. Yes, Liverpool and Manchester City are still favourites but Liverpool have to overcome injuries and City's firepower isn't quite the same – they are missing chance after chance.

If those two aren't firing on all cylinders who's to say it couldn’t be Tottenham, Chelsea, Leicester, even Man United if they put a run together.

There are so many strange things happening in the world it's paralleled by the Premier League. It's a very open race.

The first North London derby of the season is upon us. How do you reflect upon it as a fixture?

It's always been a massive game over the years. Things were different when we were playing. The North London derby isn't quite the same as it used to be.

Remember when I was playing against Arsenal I'd have played against them at youth level, at reserve level and then the first team and the rivalry was fierce. The spice was definitely there. Yes, it's still there for fans but I don't think the players who come and go have the same real feeling. It was always massive for us, a really big match. You didn’t get an extra point but you felt like you were playing no other game for the fans.

And so to Sunday. Who do you fancy?

I think Spurs win. Arsenal are not playing at their very best. There's an old cliche that in the North London derby form goes out of the window and that does happen but it's more likely to happen when there's a big full house especially if you're away from home. It won't quite have that impact. There were times against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week when if there had been a crowd in it would have been a totally different game in the second half, but it sort of fizzled out.

In the confident mood they are in, it should be a Spurs win.

The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show podcast is released every Sunday evening. Listen via the website or all major podcast platforms

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