Tim Sherwood comments on Jose Mourinho’s ruthless Eric Dier decision

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Tottenham Hotspur are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League after coming back from a two-goal deficit to beat Olympiakos at home. 

Goals from Dele Alli and Serge Aurier, along with a brace for Harry Kane, proved enough for Tottenham to take the win and advance into the next round. 

It was certainly not plain sailing. After going 2-0 down changes clearly had to be made and Jose Mourinho made them. 

He hauled off Eric Dier to bring on Christian Eriksen, with the England international clearly struggling to have an impact on the game.

It was a decision that former Tottenham manager and player Tim Sherwood had plenty of respect for. 

Speaking on beIN SPORTS, he suggested it was a move that Mauricio Pochettino would not have made and that the Tottenham boss deserves praise for the decision. 

“Would Pochettino have made that substitution after 20 minutes? With the risk, it could burn bridges with the player he’s brought off? 

“It’s highlighting the point I am making. If tough decisions are to be made, Jose’s making them. He doesn’t care what Eric Dier thinks that he’s bought him off after 20 minutes. To be fair, credit to Eric, he ran off the pitch, he knew it was right.”

TBR’s View

Tottenham were struggling to have any control of the game in midfield and Dier was seriously struggling to get involved in the game at all. 

Eriksen, however, came on and had one of the best performances in a long time as a Tottenham player. 

The Dane was effective in the final-third and delivered a cross for Kane’s second goal that was once his patented trademark. 

Mourinho’s ruthless decision paid dividends and, hopefully, Dier can improve from getting the hook. 

Tottenham will just hope all of Mourinho’s big decisions continue to be so transformative.