Jose Mourinho says Tanguy Ndombele deserves “total credit” for his turnaround in form for Tottenham.
The 24-year-old was a peripheral figure for Spurs last season and was publicly criticised by Mourinho for his displays following his £54million move from Lyon.
But Ndombele has fought for his place and is now a regular starter under Mourinho.
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And the Portuguese boss insists the key was the Frenchman realising he “had to change”.
“I always say, and I’ve really felt it all through my career, that the big responsibility for good and for bad is [with] the player,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“We don’t make miracles. We don’t make players when they have no quality and when they have no desire and no discipline and no motivation. So for good or bad, it’s always the player’s responsibility and we are the ones who can try to help.
“Sometimes they are open for that and other times they are not. When they are not, there is nothing you can do, but when they are open, you feel that motivation to help them.
“When Tanguy arrived here his condition was not good. When I arrived he was getting small injury after small injury which I believe was his responsibility.
“And for him to realise that he had to change, and work in a different way, is to his credit. Yes, he is playing and playing well. We are happy with him. But, I repeat, it’s total credit to Tanguy.”