- Mar 10, 2005
- 40,319
- 64,470
Jack Clarke with a classic Jose story in the Athletic today.
“Pochettino was the manager who signed me but I went back on loan to Leeds for six months and by the time I came back to Tottenham, it was Mourinho. Again, there’s uncertainty: ‘Is he going to want anything to do with me?’
“But when I went in for pre-season (in 2020) Mourinho was brilliant with me, a really good guy. He wanted the best for me and the team, especially the young lads. He wanted to see the boys develop. I think he was at a point in his managerial career where it wasn’t so much about winning at all costs — and that fitted with the club’s philosophy. Ryan Sessegnon came through the door at the same time and we both came from the Championship, really. It was about embedding us in the squad and developing us. He was brilliant for that.
“To start with, it was about him seeing what you’re capable of. I remember the first day of pre-season. We were going out to train and I was introduced to him in the physio’s room as I was getting my ankle strapped.
“I’d just been on quite an unsuccessful loan at QPR and he knew, obviously. He just said: ‘Either you’re shit, or QPR are shit. And we’ll find out today.’”
Laughing, Clarke adds: “That made me a little bit nervous.
“I went out to train, did quite well and he put me in his Europa League squad. So there were signs of confidence coming from him and I enjoyed working under him.
“People might think of Tottenham as an unsuccessful time but with people like that and the players, you can’t not learn. Even if you’re not playing, you’re developing. You’re seeing how they conduct themselves. It’s experience: a learning curve you can’t get if you’re not there.