‘Are the best’: Jose Mourinho amazed by team managed by 41-year-old Daniel Levy really wants at Tottenham

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Jose Mourinho has suggested that the Bayer Leverkusen team managed by Xabi Alonso are the best counter-attacking side he has seen – in comments which may alert plenty of Tottenham Hotspur fans.

This week sees Roma take on Leverkusen in the first-leg of the Europa League semi-finals. And with that, the tie pits one former Spurs boss against a manager who may be in line to take the role in the future.

Reports from the Daily Mirror at the weekend claimed that Daniel Levy had made Xabi Alonso his top target as Tottenham continue their search for Antonio Conte’s permanent successor.

The Spaniard has done an outstanding job with Leverkusen, having arrived earlier this season. They have reached a European semi-final. And they have flown up the Bundesliga table.

Standing between them and the Europa League final is Jose Mourinho’s Roma. And ahead of the semi-final, the Giallorossi boss outlined how impressed he has been by the work Alonso has done.

Mourinho lauds Tottenham manager target Xabi Alonso

“I haven’t seen him for a long time. We’ve always had a fantastic rapport, more than between a coach and a player. Playing against him or Simone [Inzaghi] last week changes nothing. If I am not wrong, he [Xabi] was coached by Benitez, Ancelotti, Guardiola, me and others,” he said, as reported by Football Italia.

“I think it’s normal that he takes more inspiration from some coaches more than others. Bayer are the best counter-attacking team I’ve seen, but if he prefers another style it’s another story. Surely, he is very pragmatic. He uses the style that suits his players more.”

Xabi Alonso is somewhat unproven at the highest level. The job at Leverkusen is his first in senior football. So it would be a gamble to try and bring him to Tottenham.

But Spurs fans have not enjoyed a managerial tenure quite like Mauricio Pochettino’s over the last few decades. And turning to Alonso would evoke memories of that appointment.

He is a young, exciting coach with clear ideas of how he wants to play. As Mourinho notes, he has learned from the very best. And it appears that he is already impressing his peers as a coach.

If Tottenham do not offer him the job this summer, you would imagine that another Premier League heavyweight will before too long.