According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur were interested in Carlo Ancelotti as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino. But, the Premier League giants ultimately had to end their pursuit due to Napoli’s hefty demands. The Italian club not only asked for an expensive payout but also demanded that they can only let Ancelotti go after the turn of the year.
As a result, Spurs ended up hiring Jose Mourinho, in less than 12 hours following the sacking of Pochettino. But, was it the right decision from the board?
Is Ancelotti’s tactics better fitted at Spurs?
Ancelotti is known for professing an attacking brand of football. But, he relies a lot on the quality of his midfielders, as they play a pivotal role in helping his team keep the lion’s share of possession. During his time at Bayern, the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez were critical to his system.
But more importantly, Ancelotti also demands a lot from his wingers, who are the ones tasked with the responsibility of providing the creative supply.
Mourinho, in contrast, employs a more pragmatic style of play, where the focus remains on achieving an efficient transition from defence to attack. Midfielders once again play a key role, but they are often assigned to do the defensive chores, which fits Spurs quite well as they have struggled to provide solidity in midfield this season.
The wingers are also more focused on providing pressure on the opposing ball-carriers, which helps his team gain a perfect balance between defence and attack. It is, therefore, fair to say that Mourinho’s tactical setup is much more suited to Spurs than Ancelotti.
Why Spurs were right not to hire Ancelotti
Tactical incompatibility is not the only thing that makes Ancelotti a bad option for Tottenham. The ex-Real Madrid manager is also known for his stubborn nature when it comes to team selection and trying new things. He would often rely on a particular group of players, which is not ideal for the strenuous schedule of English football.
Moreover, the Italian seems to prefer older, experienced players rather than giving youngsters the opportunity to shine. This is not in line with the project Pochettino built at Tottenham over the years that has seen the likes of Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier, among many others transform into excellent players.
Mourinho is not exactly proficient in developing the youth either. But, he is by far the better option and given his vast experience in English football, it is the right decision from Spurs to opt for the Portuguese mastermind.
