‘Harsh’ – Exclusive: Pundit blasts Spurs stars who made 25-yr-old look bad v Antwerp | OneFootball

Carlos Vinicius was let down by his Tottenham teammates against Royal Antwerp on Thursday, according to Noel Whelan.

The former Premier League striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, has insisted that the 25-year-old was made to look bad due to a lack of service up front.

Jose Mourinho, who had chosen the Brazilian to lead the line in Belgium, hooked the Benfica loanee at half-time as one of four changes to the side.

However, despite having the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son on the pitch, the Lilywhites slipped to defeat in their second Europa League game of the season.

Whelan has insisted that Vinicius was unlucky to be taken off by the Portuguese boss and that he was limited in opportunities due to his teammates.

“He did okay, I think sometimes when the players behind you aren’t playing well, it makes it doubly difficult for a striker,” Whelan told Football Insider.

“Not getting that service, no one’s flying past on the wings, getting into the box, supporting him. The quality was so poor I don’t think Harry Kane would have been able to do any different.

“I think that’s the problem, he didn’t stand out enough because the players who were supposed to be supporting, giving him the service, the quality, weren’t doing it for him.

“It makes other players look bad because that’s what your midfield is there for, that’s why your wide-men are there, to produce and link up with that lone striker.

“It was harsh but I think Jose Mourinho needed to change things around, he was sacrificed, they needed to get back into the game but I don’t think it will have hampered his chances. When you look back at the video, there was not much any striker really could have done.”

In other Tottenham news, ‘He knows it’s coming’ – 28-year-old tipped for axe after Thursday sight.