‘Fantastic player’, ‘so happy’: Jose Mourinho hails 25-year-old Spurs ace who shone last night

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has waxed lyrical about Spurs summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after impressing in last night’s win in the Europa League.

Spurs ran out 3-0 winners over LASK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min netting either side of Andres Andrade’s own goal.

Lucas opened the scoring after 18 minutes and Gareth Bale’s pass was turned by Andres Andrade into his own net nine minutes later.

Spurs made it three six minutes from time when Son Heung-min added the third to ensure a winning start for Spurs to their Group J campaign.

Hojbjerg was superb on the night, from mopping up on the edge of his box to pressing at the other end, and even showed off some showboating skills with a double pirouette.

Football London asked Mourinho what he thought of Hojbjerg’s display in the middle of the park, as well as his leadership qualities.

“Yeah, (laughs), we were having some laughs at half-time because we were calling him ‘Zidane’ and saying ‘Ok Pierre, take it easy,” joked Mourinho. “You tried it once (the double pirouette), don’t try to do it again because that’s not you’.

“But fantastic player and a player the team needs. That’s why we started with him because to be honest we respect LASK and we saw the way they destroyed Sporting in Lisbon and they are much better than what they looked because we were taking it seriously.

“Pierre is a good player and a good leader and he’s a captain without the armband. He’s a guy who doesn’t need the armband like he had in Southampton to influence other people. Very brave. So happy with Pierre.”

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Hojbjerg had been linked with Hojbjerg for months and, in August, he sealed a reported £15million move from Southampton to Tottenham, penning a five-year contract at Spurs.

He is a high-calibre player with an impressive CV; a dynamic, tenacious midfielder with great passing, vision, an eye for goal and leadership skills, as proven by his captain’s armband at Premier League level.

Indeed, former Southampton teammate Angus Gunn has previously deemed him a “great leader” and “great player to have in the dressing room” (Daily Echo), and it really looks as though the Saints’ loss is now Tottenham’s gain.