The Athletic have revealed that some at Tottenham Hotspur felt that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was too close to Jose Mourinho and Antoni Conte.
It was Mourinho who brought Hojbjerg to Spurs from Southampton back in 2020, with the midfielder being a mainstay in the club’s starting eleven for the past three seasons.
However, things have changed for the Dane under Ange Postecoglou, who has preferred a central midfield pairing of Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr behind James Maddison.
The 28-year-old was handed his first start of the Premier League season against Fulham on Monday as Bissouma was suspended, with Postecoglou praising the player for the way he handled that ball in Tottenham’s 2-0 win (Football.London).
Hojbjerg himself admitted after the game that it felt ‘amazing’ to get the first 90 minutes of the season under his belt and called on his teammates to continue building on their momentum by taking one game at a time (The Independent).
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Hojbjerg was Conte and Mourinho’s favourite
While discussing how the former Saints star’s situation at Spurs has changed this season, The Athletic have now pointed out the close relationship the player had with Postecoglou’s predecessors.
In fact, the publication asserts that some at Tottenham felt that Hojbjerg was close to Mourinho and Conte in ‘a borderline sycophantic way’.
Spurs Web Opinion
Postecoglou has demonstrated that he trusts Hojbjerg, with the Australian bringing him on as a substitute on seven occasions this season before the clash against Fulham.
Although the Dane has different characteristics to Bissouma, he has showcased that he is technically good enough to play in Ange’s system
Have something to tell us about this article?
