Jose Mourinho has tipped Oliver Skipp to be a Tottenham player “for many years” despite the midfielder’s lack of minutes this season.
Skipp has played just 10 minutes of Premier League football under Mourinho, coming on as a late substitute in the 5-0 thrashing of Burnley in December. He also came off the bench in the 3-1 Champions League dead rubber defeat to Bayern Munich a few days later.
In the past Mourinho has been criticised for failing to give youth a chance at his previous clubs, but he has looked to turn that reputation on its head at Manchester United and Tottenham. For example, 19-year-old, Japhet Tanganga has arguably become a first-team regular in recent weeks.
However, Skipp – who is also 19 – has not been given similar opportunities. Mourinho decided to bring in Gedson Fernandes on loan in the January transfer window instead of putting his faith in Skipp.
But despite barely playing of late, the teenager has been tipped for big things by Mourinho, who voiced his long-term desire to keep Skipp and Tanganga at the club.
“He [Tanganga] is already in the dressing room, with Skipp,” Mourinho said in his press conference on Friday (via Football London).
“Both fantastic kids, both kids we believe in a lot. The difference with Japhet is that his opportunity appeared, but Skippy has not had the opportunity to play many matches. But both are in the first team dressing room and our objective is to make them Tottenham players for many years.”
It will be interesting to see if Skipp is the squad against Aston Villa on Sunday after Mourinho’s comments. Check out our full predicted XI here.
