Jose Mourinho jokes Tottenham are ‘champions of last five matches’ as he defends record

Jose Mourinho has launched a firm defence of his Tottenham record as he looks forward to his first full season at the club.

Spurs, who have qualified for the Champions League in each of the last four seasons, are now scrambling to clinch a Europa League berth with just one match remaining in the Premier League season.

Mourinho's men are reliant on results elsewhere to finish the season in sixth position but the manager believes the final standings don't necessarily reflect the work he has done since arriving at Spurs in November.

Pointing to the form table since he succeeded Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the former Manchester United boss said his side were producing the results necessary for a top-four finish across a 38-game season.

"If this is about individuals and individual approach, let's go for an easy one: I'm fourth in the league," he said.

"I arrived 14th, three points difference to Arsenal, I think 11 points to a Champions League position but if the league starts only for me and not for Tottenham - but the reality is I'm not important, the important thing is Tottenham.

"But if you want to go in that direction, I'm fourth in the league. If you think it's bad to be fourth in the league, that's your opinion.

"If you want to laugh a little bit with me, I am the champion of the last five matches. You can give that medal - champion of the last five matches, 13 points.

"I try to do my best all the time, I'm not worried about proving or not... I try to do the best all the time and my most important match is the next one and my most important season is the next one and it's not what you think, it's not anything that can come from outside that's going to motivate me more or less or put more or less pressure on me, it's just my nature.

"I don't need that. So I look forward to next season, I want very much to start next season and that's my nature."