Mourinho reveals Spurs star ‘suffering’ as he points to training problems

Giovani Lo Celso, Steven Bergwijn Tottenham

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Steven Bergwijn is “suffering” from lingering fitness issues that are holding him back.

Bergwijn received online abuse from Spurs fans after he missed two gilt-edged chances in the defeat to Liverpool. Indeed, he again struggled to convert in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Leeds.

The Netherlands international is a key part of Mourinho’s front three alongside Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. But while he is performing admirable defensive work, he is not contributing goals.

In fact, he has yet to find the net in 11 Premier League games this season. Mourinho, though, says that he has been hampered physically.

“We need him to score goals. Of course we know he has the ability to do that,” the Portuguese said.

“If you go back one year, his first match and he scored an amazing goal [against Manchester City]. We know that he has the ability to do that.

“He’s accumulating also physical problems. I don’t know if you could see but even in the last 10 minutes he was touching his groin, he was touching his adductor.

“He’s having problems that are stopping him now and again from training properly and at high intensity so he’s suffering a little bit.

Steven Bergwijn, Jack Harrison

“But of course he gives very good things to the team. I believe the goals will arrive if his condition improves.”

In contrast, Son is one player who is at the peak of his powers. He scored his 100th Tottenham goal in the win over Marcelo Bielsa’s men.

Fifteen of those have come this season, 12 in the league, as he became the first non-British or Irish player to score 100 goals for the club.

Son grateful for ‘massive’ achievement

Kane Son TEAMtalk

The South Korean told Spurs TV: “It is really special, I need a help from my team-mates and from the fans, who are supporting me always, even when I have bad moments.

“It is a massive, massive achievement for me and I am really grateful and I want to say thank you for everyone who helped me score 100 goals for Spurs.

“To score 100 goals with the fans would have been the best feeling ever. Without them I would not be here. It is a great feeling.”

Spurs return to action on Tuesday when facing Brentford in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

READ MORE: Mourinho reveals favourite team to watch in PL after dismantling Leeds