Jose Mourinho is enduring a torrid time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, and it has just gotten worse. Spurs’ downturn unsurprisingly coincided with the loss of both Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and without their top scorers, the north London outfit have been unable to win in their last five matches across all competitions.
The run began in the Champions League last 16 against German side RB Leipzig, as the Bundesliga club left their first-ever Champions League knockout tie at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with not only a win but a vital away goal. Spurs must score if they are to overcome Tuesday’s opposition, but January addition Steven Bergwijn has been ruled out following an official update from the club, which leaves Mourinho painfully short in forward areas.
The two-time Champions League winner has had his hand forced, and with the Dutchman ruled out, he is better off gambling progression on summer signing Ryan Sessegnon. The versatile English prodigy has been trialled in five different positions this season, but he has only registered a goal in one of those, at left attacking midfield, while playing Bayern Munich in the group stage, as per WhoScored. Though he is often deployed as a left-back, further forward is where Sessegnon’s future appears to lie, having scored previously registered 16 goals along with eight assists while in the Championship with Fulham.
Though he is almost entirely untested at this level, Mourinho has few options in his hand left to play, and the 19-year-old could be the trump card which secures progression to the quarter-final. The game was a dead rubber, but Sessegnon still managed to get the better of a strong Bayern defence and beat Manuel Neuer when he lined up against the Bundesliga leaders. Tottenham will have to score to progress, and the teenager has already proved he is fearless in the face of daunting opposition and could be the man to break the deadlock.
Having made just one previous Champions League start, of course, Sessegnon, valued at £31.5m (Transfermarkt) is a risk. But if Mourinho is not willing to gamble, then he may quickly find himself evicted from Uefa’s high roller table.
