Mourinho targets Tottenham FA Cup triumph, admits it being ‘biggest domestic trophy’

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has promised to prioritise the FA Cup along with the Premier League and Champions League unlike the previous manager Mauricio Pochettino insisting he is desperate to win the world’s “biggest domestic cup” competition.

Ahead of their third-round clash this weekend at Middlesbrough, Spurs have not won the FA Cup since 1991 while they are also without winning a silverware since their 2008 League Cup final win against London derby rivals Chelsea.

Addressing his first pre-FA Cup press conference on Friday, Mourinho said:

We are not speaking about just ‘something’ – for me, the FA Cup is big, it is the biggest domestic cup,” Mourinho said. “I played the Copa Del Rey – Barcelona against Real Madrid – and the Italian Cup – Inter vs Roma – and they are not comparable with FA Cup Final, even when the two teams competing are not the biggest in the country. For me, the FA Cup is a very, very special cup. And that’s for me, individually.”

Mourinho continued:

Me, as the Tottenham coach, I know what the competition means to the Tottenham supporters. The history they have, the memories they have, the victories they have. The unforgettable goals they scored. The Ricardo Villa goal I watched as a teenager. I don’t forget. I could only imagine what it means to the Tottenham fans.

I am not saying we are candidates, I am not saying we are going to win it, but I am saying we have to play this competition seriously. You can tell me, ‘Jose you are in trouble, you have lots of injuries and not many options, and you have a Premier League to try to finish in the top six or fourth’.

“But I am not going to give more attention to the Premier League than the cup.”

Mourinho was 18 when Villa had scored at Wembley and, upon being asked where he had watched the match, the Portuguese said: “I was in my house with my dad. In the late 60s, early 70s, [there were] not many matches live on TV. I think national team matches, the three European cup finals, and the FA Cup. And the FA Cup was basically the last match of the season so I think I didn’t miss one in that period. Little kid, young teenager, I don’t think I missed one.”

Tottenham will travel to Middlesbrough on Sunday to kick-off their 2019/20 FA Cup campaign as both the sides enter the competition in the third round.