‘Honest’ Jose Mourinho explains the missing ingredient for Tottenham at Newcastle

Jose Mourinho hinted at a lack of quality from his Tottenham players following a frustrating 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on Easter Sunday.

Fellow Premier League top-four rivals Chelsea and Leicester City both lost on Saturday, meaning a win at St James’ Park would have sent Spurs into fourth place.

However, Spurs struggled on Tyneside as Joelinton put Steve Bruce’s Magpies ahead after 28 minutes. Though a quickfire brace from Harry Kane had Spurs back in front within six minutes of that setback, the visitors, as usual, failed to build on their lead - and Joe Willock’s 85th-minute equaliser meant the points were shared.

Mourinho has been openly critical of the mentality of some of his players in recent months, but suggested that talent, and not temperament, was the reason for more dropped points this time around.

“Every point for this team can be a crucial point and we knew that they were going to fight,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“We came out for the second half with the intention of killing it. In fact, the biggest chance of the second half is just before 2-2 when we hit the post.

“But we knew they were going to fight until the end and I think because of that fighting spirit, and also because probably they were feeling (our) fragility, they went until the end and got a point.

“It was not a problem of fight or of attitude, the players wanted to win.

“But we have to be honest and say - I saw things on the pitch, not in terms of attitude, but in terms of vision, balance, which belong to the top players - I didn’t see in every position.”

While the draw will technically boost Spurs’ hopes of Champions League qualification given they have closed the gap on Chelsea and Leicester, Mourinho knew it was an opportunity missed.

"Not a good point," Mourinho said. "We came with the objective to win it so I'm not happy with a point.

"I won't go deep on my analysis because what I feel, what I think, what I want to say cannot be with you, only in the dressing room.

"There were too many individual mistakes and mistakes give instability, which leads to the perception (of an open game)."

Additional reporting by PA.

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