Sessegnon shares key Mourinho advice in hunt for regular Tottenham role

Ryan Sessegnon has revealed that Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has told him to be “aggressive” as he hunts a regular role in the team.

Having racked up close to 100 appearances by his 18th birthday with Fulham, Sessegnon‘s move across London last summer has been a slow burner, the England Under-21 international not featuring for Spurs until November due to injury.

The 19-year-old has now made 11 outings for Tottenham, including six in the Premier League and two in the Champions League, and he has opened up about how he is targeting more game time under Mourinho.

“To play under a coach like Mourinho is very tactical,” Sessegnon said. “He doesn’t like to concede goals, so I’m trying to adjust my game in a defensive way as well.

“He wants me to be aggressive, so that’s what I’m trying to do.

“I think you have to work on it. Over the years I’ve worked on trying to better myself, working hard in training, analysing my game and stuff like that.

“It comes with experience of games and stuff.

“It’s been coming. Every time I go on the pitch I try to be positive and in recent weeks when I’ve had the chance it’s probably been a bit negative.

“When I came to Spurs, it was tough at the start but I’m starting to find my feet and the more games I play the more confident I am.”

Sessegnon also spoke about how he has found it “tough” finding his feet at Spurs following his injury problems.

“It was tough, really tough,” he admitted. “It was my first serious injury and to come to a big club like this, I was trying to find my feet.

“I came back in training and then I felt it again, so it was tough. Thankfully I’m now pain-free and enjoying my football.

“Coming to the game quite young, I was used to playing every game without any type of injuries.

“To come to a big club when I’m still young, still developing, still learning, to get an injury like that was mentally and physically tough.

“Thank God I’m pain free now and I just want to keep playing games.”

Spurs are not back in action until February 16 when they play Aston Villa following the Premier League’s winter break.

In other Tottenham news, the latest European papers are reporting that Mourinho is targeting a move for exciting Roma youngster Cengiz Under in the summer.

The 22-year-old has endured an injury-hit campaign with the Italian side but Portuguese boss Mourinho has reportedly given Under his word that he will make a move for the Turk if Spurs qualify for the Champions League.

Under has made 17 appearances for Roma this season, scoring twice.

Read more…