'Mourinho is being left behind, his career is going downward & he has to change’

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has been ‘left behind’ as a football manager due to his outdated tactics, according to former Chelsea player Tony Cascarino.

After Nagelsmann’s win in north London – Leipzig’s debut match in the Champions League last 16 – Cascarino believes the Special One’s reign at the top of the coaching game is over.

“I think Jose Mourinho has been left behind,” he said on Thursday’s White and Sawyer.

“Julian Nagelsmann wants to play the game in a different way, and if you look across Europe it’s all being dominated by flair and adventurous teams, not cautious and pragmatic teams.

“Flair is winning every league. This guy does the same thing and we saw that last night.

“Watching Jose set up his team, yes we know he has injuries, but he offered very little in tactics yesterday.

“When I saw the line-up and saw Serge Aurier play at right-back against Timo Werner, I just couldn’t understand it. Timo Werner is like lightning, he is like a young Michael Owen at his very best, lightning over ten yards. If you leave space in behind the full-back you’re asking for trouble.

“Nagelsmann has a way of playing but he will find a way to fit players in. They had three on-loan players who all played last night and they all stood out and played really well.

“Meanwhile, I’m watching Lucas Moura continually chase long balls over the top…

“Okay, it’s not all finished yet and it’s only 1-0, but I’d be amazed if there was another Ajax miracle.

“If you look at Jose’s career over recent years, it’s been gradually going downward.

“He’s always won trophies, you can never deny that, but now I’m seeing a manager who the game is gradually drifting away from.

“He’ll always say ‘well I’ve won this’, but what he’s not recognising is that these new talented coaches are all playing the game a different way and they’re dominating football.

“He has to change.”