Julian Nagelsmann might be jovially referred to as 'the baby José Mourinho' following his time at Hoffenheim, but what was meant as a compliment to Europe's most exciting manager actually gives Tottenham Hotspur's new boss too much credit.
Things weren't perfect for Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino. Results were going against them on an all too regular basis, and while there was still a long-term vision, the soul of the club that reached last season's Champions League final looked all-but lost.
But since Mourinho was brought in as a short-term fix, any remnants of last season's side have been well and truly destroyed.
There a was a brief moment in time when it looked like Mourinho might have breathed new life into the club, but after the small high that the Portuguese manager brought in, there's been a catastrophic (albeit, quite predictable) comedown.
Tottenham have become a laughing stock in terms of results, while the circus off the pitch that this modern-day Mourinho brings has also reared its ugly head.
But crashing out of the Champions League to RB Leipzig - debutants in the Champions League knockout stages this season - hasn't just come as a result of Mourinho's surprise appointment back in December.
Germany's Red Bull-backed club are certainly a force to be reckoned with. They're financed by a franchise and have feeder clubs dotted all over the world, giving them unrivalled access to exciting young players.
But they are only a club who have been in existence since 2009 - for context, Twitter is more than three years older than RB Leipzig - so Tottenham's failure to achieve any sort of success in the Champions League this time around can't just lay at Mourinho's feet.
Yes, Leipzig aren't a normal club.
But they have been founded on their long-term ambitions, and Tottenham's two-legged defeat had nothing to do with European football's newbies 'wanting it more' or being 'hungrier', although those are defences which will likely be given by fans in north London.
RB Leipzig might have been chalked up as the plucky underdogs when this draw was first made, but they're a team who came into the Champions League knockout stages with a better squad and a better manager than their opponents.
Injuries haven't helped Tottenham's chances, of course, but it's not a one-sided defence. Leipzig started both legs against Spurs with four full-backs in the starting lineup, with first-choice defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Willi Orban both injured.
It's understandable for Tottenham fans to look for an easy excuse for their dismal performances against RB Leipzig and Mourinho will be public enemy number one.
Although Mourinho's outdated approach hasn't helped their chances, he isn't responsible for the stale squad which has become too comfortable at the club, mismatched with world-class stars and overachieving players.
There has been a serious oversight behind the scenes at Tottenham over the last few years when it comes to their long-term plans, with their recent decisions helping to create an ethos which is now chasing short-term fulfilment, undoing all the fantastic work that Pochettino did over the last six years.
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Source :
90min
