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Jose Mourinho says goals were 'too small' ahead of Tottenham Europa League win against KF Shkendija

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Getty Images

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that his side arrived at Thursday night’s Europa League qualifier against Macedonian side KF Shkendija to find that the goals were too small.

Spurs survived a brief scare to run out 3-1 winners and move within one win of the competition’s group stage, thanks to goals from Erik Lamela, Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

But Mourinho says his goalkeepers noticed the framework at the Tose Proeski Arena in Skopje was too small in height before the match and demanded they were changed.

Mourinho later posted pictures on Instagram of himself almost touching the crossbar while Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was easily grabbing the woodwork.

There are no suggestions of foul play from Shkendija as the stadium in the North Macedonian capital is not their home ground.

"Before the game was a funny situation because my goalkeepers told me that the goal was small," Mourinho said.

"I went by myself and of course the goal was small. The goalkeepers, they spend hours and hours and hours in the goal so they know when the goal is not the right dimension.

"I am not a goalkeeper but I know football since I was a kid and I know when I stand there and I spread my arms and I know the distance, so I felt immediately that something was going wrong.

"We got the UEFA delegate to confirm and yes it was 5cm smaller, which of course we demanded for the goals to be replaced for goals of the right dimension."

Additional reporting by PA.

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