JOSE MOURINHO returns to the Champions League as Spurs host Olympiacos.
The Special One got off to a strong start in the Premier League on Saturday, with his Tottenham side holding off a late West Ham rally to win 3-2 at the London Stadium.
Another victory here would put them in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages, with the Greek visitors propping up Group B with a just a solitary point from their four games.
- Kick off at 8pm from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Watch on BT Sport 2
- Live on BT Sport app
- EE phone customers can watch FREE with a three-month trial by texting SPORT to 150
Tottenham XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Rose, Dier, Winks, Lucas, Dele, Son, Kane
Subs:Austin, Vertonghen, Sessegnon, Sissoko, Ndombele, Eriksen, Lo Celso
Olympiacos XI: Sa, Elabdellaoui, Semedo, Meriah, Tsimikas, Guilherme, Camara, Bouchalakis, Podence, Masouras, El Arabi
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And now for his thoughts on Poch's replacement.
Sissoko added: “It’s a new start now though. Jose’s a big coach, he’s won so many titles with different teams and you can see he has a lot of experience, so I think it will be good working with him.
“Everyone knows him. We have played against sides he has managed on many occasions and we’ve seen him as a pundit, although no-one in the squad has worked with him before. What we know is that he works with passion, he wants to win, and he has won a lot already with many teams.
“We haven’t had much time to work with him but from the first meeting, we had a chat, he explained the way he wants to operate, his ideas and now we need to take things day by day and work harder together.
“Hopefully he’ll bring his previous success here – like we always say, we want to win trophies and if we can that with him, that’ll be great.”
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Moussa Sissoko is the big interview in tonight's programme.
Unsurprisingly, he has been talking about the change in manager.
First up, this is what he said about the fired Mauricio Pochettino: “We were all disappointed to hear the news. Not one player likes that sort of situation where a manager leaves because that sometimes means we as players haven’t done enough on the pitch.
“Yet at the same time that is the way of football. We have seen managers move away many times at different clubs and it will continue to happen, it is life and it is football.
“First of all we would like to say thank you to Mauricio for everything. He has done a lot for the club – both before I arrived here and after – so we thank him for everything he has done.
“What he did and what he achieved here was amazing and we wish him all the best for the future.”
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And for Olympiacos…
There are a couple of notable names, especially if you are avid followers of La Liga including Ruben Semedo and Youssef El Arabi.
Daneil Podence was formerly on the books at Sporting Lisbon and will look to cause Spurs problems once again on the right flank.
While Omar Elabdellaoui was in the Manchester City academy, but never made his Premier League debut.
Yet, no starting berth for midfield magician Mathieu Valbuena.
Olympiacos XI: Sa, Elabdellaoui, Semedo, Meriah, Tsimikas, Guilherme, Camara, Bouchalakis, Podence, Masouras, El Arabi
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In his programme notes, Mourinho has unsurprisingly said it is “truly an honour” to be taking charge of Spurs.
Apart from lauding the performance at West Ham, here are some of the highlights from those pre-match words.
Jose said: “I cannot wait to take my seat in the home dugout this evening for the first time at this fantastic stadium, which I believe to be the best around.
“I have made no secret of my admiration for Tottenham Hotspur over the past few years.
“Everybody has made me and my staff feel so welcome since we arrived almost a week ago.
“We could not be happier with how everything has gone so far and now we are looking forward to sharing our first home game with you all tonight.”
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Jose has said plenty of times that it is not about him.
So much so that some are beginning to think it might actually be all about him!
But if the programme cover is anything to go by, Mourinho was telling the truth.
No sign of him!
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