This archive report was first published on 16 December 2019.
December 16, 2019, marked a turning point for Tottenham Hotspur as they began to show signs of improvement under new manager Jose Mourinho. The team's 2-1 win over Wolves, secured by an injury-time header from defender Jan Vertonghen, was a testament to the Portuguese coach's influence.
Spurs were 12 points behind Chelsea in the Premier League when Mourinho took charge, but they have since secured four wins in five matches, including the crucial victory over Wolves. This has propelled them to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea, setting up a thrilling showdown between the two London rivals on Sunday.
Vertonghen, a Belgium international, praised Mourinho's 'fighting mentality' for the team's resurgence, saying, "Yes, the gaffer has a lot to do with it, he's brought that fighting mentality back and we had a lot of meetings this week about this game."
Reflecting on the match, Vertonghen noted that Tottenham showed their ability to adapt in search of victory, adding, "Tactically, Wolves are a very good side, they will always have good spells in the game. It was a tough one, at the end you think 'should we be happy with a draw or not?' But this feeling is better."
