Stunned Tottenham Boss Jose Mourinho Slams His Players Attitude After Crashing Out Of The Europa League

Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho has slammed his players attitude in their shocking Europa League round-of-16 exit to Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night, saying that "Attitude is never negotiable".

It was a stunning evening in Croatia, with Spurs who were overwhelming favorite to reach the quater-final throwing away a 2-0 first-leg advantage in North London to lose scandalously 3-0 in the return-leg, and (3-2 on aggregate) thanks to an inspired hat-trick from Mislav Orsic in the 62nd, 82nd, and 106th minute of the game.

Spurs were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, but Mourinho went on to suffer one of the most chastening defeats of his glittering managerial career.

Mourinho lost to Damir Krznar who was making his dream debut as coach of Dynamo Zagreb after taking over just on Monday from Zoran Mamic who resigned after learning he faced a prison sentence of four years and eight months for fraud.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Mourinho told BT Sport after the game: 

“In the 90 minutes and in the first half of extra-time, there was one team that decided to leave everything on the pitch. They left everything there – they left sweat, energy, blood and at the end of the game, they had even tears of happiness. Very humble, very committed and I have to praise them.

"Before the game, I told the players the risks of a bad attitude. I told them at half-time, even with 0-0, the risk of playing the way we were playing and it happened because I believe that the players only realised the game was in risk when they scored the second goal and it went to extra-time... He added.

"We are in a situation I don't want to go. I don't think it is for me to go in that direction. my team didn’t look they were playing an important match. But for me, it is for the respect I have for my own career and my own job. Every match is an important match for me and I believe that for every Tottenham fan at home, every match matters and another attitude is never negotiable."

"I apologise to the Tottenham supporters, and I hope that the players feel the same as I feel."

“To say that I feel sad is not enough because what I feel goes much further than sadness".

Mourinho further went to enter the Dinamo’s dressing room to praise the guys for their spectacular performance against his team.

Tottenham are currently eighth in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's game away to Aston Villa, they are also in the Carabao Cup final and would hope to win the title against Manchester City in late April at Wembley stadium.