100 goals are not bad for a negative team like Tottenham Hotspur: José Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur became the second club in one of Europe’s top five leagues to reach 100 goals in all competitions this season after a 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday, giving coach Jose Mourinho the opportunity to criticize his critics.

Until the current three-game winning streak in the Premier League, Tottenham slid down the table with Mourinho’s tactics under scrutiny.

But a 4-0 win over Burnley last weekend and Sunday’s loss to Palace in which Harry Kane and Gareth Bale combined amazingly with two goals apiece, has put Tottenham back in sixth place. and in contention for a place in the top four.

“If the statistics they gave me are correct, 100 goals scored in the season, which for a very defensive team, a very negative team, is not bad,” Mourinho told reporters.

Tottenham have a Europa League round of 16 draw against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday and then a North London derby against Arsenal. There is also a League Cup final to look forward to when Tottenham’s season comes back to life.

“It was a good week for us. Three games, nine points, and for next week when we are in a crucial game in Europe, and against Arsenal, nothing better for us than to win nine points this week, “said Mourinho.

Bale scored in the 25th minute, but a header from Christian Benteke earned Palace the equalizer at the edge of halftime.

A few weeks ago that may have hit Mourinho’s side, but they responded with Bale reestablishing his lead before Kane struck with a sublime goal and then finished it off with a header from Son Heung-min’s assist.

“We can see that when you concede a goal in the last minute of the first half and start the second very positive without a scar from conceding that goal, the players are very confident at this point,” Mourinho said.

On the dream duo of Kane and Bale, Mourinho said: “It was an incredible goal. When I saw the ball go away from his foot, I knew where it was going, the trajectory was incredible.

“(Bale) needs to enjoy the positive conversation with everyone who doubted his first half of the season. He is playing very well and working hard for the team ”.

The only other club in the major European leagues to reach 100 goals in all competitions is Bayern Munich (106).

.