Mourinho: Tottenham will be ready for knockout stage

Jose Mourinho watched Tottenham suffer a demoralising defeat to Bayern Munich – but then warned they will be ready for the knock-out stages.

Tottenham teenager Ryan Sessegnon scored on his first start for the club but otherwise it was a painful lesson as former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho inspired Bayern to victory.

But Spurs boss Mourinho, who took charge last month, said: “By the end of February I will understand my players better they will understand me better. I think we ill be much more ready.

“I think from the teams that finished second in their Groups and the teams that finished first will wish they don’t play against us. We are one of the strongest teams from those who finished second.

“But today was not a question of being or not being ready. It was play and prepare a game when you put more emphasis on the players who rest than the players who play and the result we are fighting for.

“I try to hide that feeling but the players are intelligent guys and they understand my focus was not on today. My focus was on what next.

“I hope supporters understand what I did. We all agreed internally that was the best option for the players playing every minute and for the young players to develop.

“But it was important to come here and get out with a result with the minimum to leave with dignity. My wish is that we can be back and if we can be back it will be quarter final or semi final, for a proper match, for a match that we all like.”

Mourinho did praise Sessegnon for his goal – but warned the £25m teenager must improve and learn to build on his start.

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“That is his quality, that is the quality we know he has. He arrives always in dangerous positions and he is a good finisher. He can improve, he lost too many individual duels. He has a lot to develop but the potential is there,” said Mourinho.