Burnley will try to stop Tottenham, who have scored 31 goals...

Nothing seems to rank with Jose Mourinho like the idea that he’s a defender coach whose safety comes first and who creates adventurous football.

“It depends on the team,” replied the Tottenham manager when asked if the free start to the season could silence some of his critics.

“You can’t say that about my Real Madrid side, who scored 121 goals in the league,” added Mourinho. “If you say that about the way to second place at Manchester United or last season and try to get into the top six and be in the Europa League, you’re right.”

Spurs have scored 31 goals in the first 10 games of the season, including 19 in their last four games.

“I’ve had amazing, amazing attacking players at Real Madrid and we’ve managed to build the team in a certain way,” said Mourinho.

‘I have to be honest and say that we have a lot of good attackers here, but we have to give the team stability because the team needs stability in the back in order to feel solid and confident and to be able to try. So we have to find that balance. ‚

Sometimes it feels like he’s being careful about taking an exception and proving the rule. But the truth is that Mourinho has always built his teams from a strong and organized defense base in order to create freedom for the strikers. His reputation was occupied when he arrived at Chelsea and won the Premier League title in his first season. He lost only once and conceded only 15 goals in 38 games.

However, the ‘special one’ disagrees and says this cannot be said for his Real Madrid team

Real Madrid scored 121 goals and won the league with 100 points under Mourinho in 2011/12

Success was based on a strong defensive: a back four shielded by Claude Makelele with Petr Cech in goal, and the frame of his team lasted a decade.

How successful and productive his team will be depends on their attacking talent, and he wasn’t afraid to be outrageously defensive when he thought he didn’t have the firepower.

At Real Madrid, when they scored 121 goals and won the league with 100 points in 2011/12, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain were at his disposal. Ronaldo scored 60 goals in all competitions, aided by the creative powers of Kaka, Angel di Maria and Mesut Ozil. Benzema scored 32 and Higuain 26, despite only starting 28 games.

“Let’s say it’s a team thing, it’s not just about individuals,” said Mourinho when invited to compare this real Real Madrid squad with Tottenhams this season, which is equipped with attacking options.

While his current club, Tottenham, has scored 31 goals in the first 10 games of the season

Mourinho has strong attack options with Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale (above)

Spurs are Harry Kane, son Heung-min, Gareth Bale, Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwijn and Carlos Vinicius, who impressed in his debut against LASK in the Europa League on Thursday – not to forget Erik Lamela and Dele Alli – and the goals are flowing .

Kane is already at 10 for the season. Son has nine in his last six appearances. Burnley has to try to stop them tonight.

“At the back we have to improve the details, that’s obvious,” said Mourinho. ‘We try to find solutions and to be organized. We try not to give the opponent any space. But you look at our squad and there is incredible quality and options from midfield to attack. Which attacking player is not playing well? Nobody. The team, the way we play, it’s fun to be an attacking player on our team. ‚

And that, whether you agree with him or not, is why he disapproves of the theory that he’s the coach of a defender. He builds in the back and organized to create space and freedom for the strikers.

It looks promising at the moment.