'If these boys don't care about results, we'll be in big trouble' - Jose Mourinho questions mental strength of Tottenham players

Spurs suffer crushing 3-1 loss at Sheffield United

Sheffield United's Sander Berge celebrates the opening goal against Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane, on Thursday, July 2. The Blades won the match 3-1. Reuters

Sheffield United's Sander Berge opens the scoring. Reuters

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho. AFP

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. AP

Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko attempts to keep the ball in play. Getty

Sander Berge opens the scoring. Getty

Tottenham striker Harry Kane reacts after blazing a free-kick over the bar. AFP

Tottenham's Brazilian Lucas Moura goes down and accidentally handles the ball in the build-up to Harry Kane scoring, but the goal was overturned by VAR. AFP

Harry Kane scores for Spurs, but the goal was disallowed by VAR. Reuters

Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates after making the score 1-1, only for VAR to disallow the goal. PA

Lys Mousset puts Sheffield United 2-0 up. EPA

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder. EPA

Harry Kane's first-half goal is disallowed by VAR. AFP

Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie celebrates scoring his team's third goal. Reuters

Spurs striker Harry Kane makes the score 3-1. Getty

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the mental strength of his team after their 3-1 loss at Sheffield United on Thursday.

Tottenham's Champions League hopes were left in tatters after the defeat at Bramall Lane.

Harry Kane had a goal disallowed after Lucas Moura was adjudged to have handled the ball in the build-up after being fouled and Mourinho's side capitulated afterwards.

The Portuguese said he learned a lot about his players by their poor reaction.

"You have to be ready to cope with negative moments and go until the last minute," he said. "In spite of my efforts in the dressing room, now I feel I know more about the profile of my players.

"I felt that in the second half we wouldn't be strong enough to cope with a team that when they're winning just defends and counter-attacks. So congratulations to them."

Mourinho has also called on his side to show the motivation in the remaining six games to finish as high in the table as they can.

The Champions League spots, even if they go down to fifth, look to have gone and a place in the Europa League is not in the bag yet either.

"It's very easy to motivate myself because it's my nature," Mourinho said. "I always say when a professional player needs an external motivation source, then he is in trouble.

"The motivation should be self-motivation, directly related to your professionalism, directly related with respect for your job, your club, the fans. That is the most important thing.

"The manager can just help but the nature of the player as a professional is the most important.

"Clearly if these boys don't care about results and don't care about the position we finish at the end of the season we'll be in big, big trouble for the future.

"So I hope that they care and fight for the best position in the table for the end of the season."