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Jose Mourinho apologized for substituting Eric Dier and praised a quick-thinking ball boy after Tottenham came from two goals down to beat Olympiakos 4-2 and qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.<\/p>\nJose Mourinho apologized for substituting Eric Dier and praised a quick-thinking ball boy after Tottenham came from two goals down to beat Olympiakos 4-2 and qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Mourinho\u2019s first home game as Spurs boss looked set to be spoiled as the Greek visitors capitalized on a woeful start by the hosts to lead through goals to Youssef El Arabi and Ruben Semedo.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese coach reacted by hooking defensive midfielder Dier with just 29 minutes played in favor of the more attacking talents of Christian Eriksen.<\/p>\n
And the change helped spark a superb fightback as Dele Alli\u2019s first European goal for more than two years, a brace from Harry Kane, and a rare Serge Aurier strike sent Tottenham into the last 16.<\/p>\n
Kane\u2019s first, which leveled the Group B encounter early in the second period, came after a ball boy set Spurs on the attack by quickly throwing on a replacement ball for a throw-in, prompting praise from Mourinho.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo do that, you have to be a very good ball boy,\u201d said Mourinho.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was between my 10 and 16 years old, a very good ball boy and the kid is a very good ball boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe understands the game, reads the game, he\u2019s not there just to look to the stands, or to the lights, or to the scarves he\u2019s there living the game and playing the game very, very well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end, I wanted to invite him to the dressing room to celebrate with us, but he disappeared. I don\u2019t know where he is but very good ball boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Mourinho\u2019s reign began with Saturday\u2019s win at West Ham, his debut on home turf started in dismal fashion.<\/p>\n
El Arabi fired home from the edge of the box inside six minutes before defender Semedo doubled the advantage in the 19th minute to the delight of the passionate travelling fans.<\/p>\n
Mourinho then reluctantly made the difficult decision to bring off Dier and replace him with Eriksen, a move which was eventually vindicated with a result which guarantees Spurs second spot in the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first thing is that the most difficult moment of the game for me was not when Olympiakos scored the first or the second goal, the most difficult moment of the game for me was when I made the change in the first half,\u201d said Mourinho.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurt the player but hurt myself. It\u2019s not easy for the player, but also not easy for myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that the player understands, and I was lucky that my choice was a with a very intelligent boy and a boy that has very good understanding of what a team is, because I did it for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed at that time a second creative player.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to do it for the team. I apologize for Eric. He knows I did it for the team and not with an intention to hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Midfielder Alli, whose previous European goals came in a 3-1 win over Real Madrid back in November 2017, made Mourinho\u2019s half-time team talk significantly easier by tapping home after a mistake by Yassine Meriah.<\/p>\n
England captain Kane then slotted in leveler after the ball boy allowed Lucas Moura to be released for the assist. After Aurier slammed Spurs ahead, Kane\u2019s second sent him into the record books as he is now the fastest player to 20 Champions League goals, only needing 24 games.<\/p>\n
Mourinho, referencing a forthcoming Amazon documentary, revealed he refrained from harsh words at the break, with last month\u2019s 7-2 home defeat to Bayern Munich part of his thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you wait a few months and buy the Amazon movie, you will get it,\u201d Mourinho joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to be a soft version of myself because it was a bit of a surprise for me but I felt that the players\u2019 self-confidence playing at home with not the best results, probably with the Bayern game behind their thoughts, I felt they were in need of some love at that time, and not a critical, but more of a one to give them emotional balance.\u201d<\/p>\n