There's only one way out when Jose Mourinho talks like this... the Tottenham boss has repeated the same stages in his career - from the cracks showing to the fallout - that always end in his inevitable exit

So, we have got to the stage where Jose Mourinho starts to blame his players. It always happens eventually. Results slide, cracks open and blame is shifted.

At Real Madrid, Mourinho suffered 'the most treacherous team I have had in my life'. In his second spell at Chelsea, he felt that 'my work is betrayed'.

Now, having seen his Tottenham team spurn yet another lead, this time against Newcastle, it was for one simple reason: 'Same coach, different players.'

Same coach, same pattern.

For a manager as risk-averse as Mourinho, the decision to alienate his players, absolve himself of the blame, while pointing the finger at the squad under his stewardship is one hell of a gamble.