Carlos Vinícius reveals Mourinho test during Tottenham spell with Harry Kane praise

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Carlos Vinícius has lifted the lid on José Mourinho’s management style, revealing the Portuguese coach deliberately tested his mentality during his first days at the club before deciding whether he could be trusted.

Speaking to Globo Esporte, the Brazilian reflected on his time in north London and explained why Mourinho remains the most influential manager of his career.

Vinícius joined Tottenham on loan from Benfica during Mourinho’s tenure and quickly discovered that life under the former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager was unlike anything he had previously experienced.

According to Vinícius, Mourinho's ability to predict how matches would unfold left a lasting impression.

The Brazilian said the manager would regularly explain exactly what would happen during games, including both positive and negative scenarios, before kick-off. More often than not, those predictions proved accurate.

However, it was Mourinho's handling of players away from matchdays that made the strongest impact.

After arriving at Tottenham, Vinícius expected to be integrated immediately into the main squad. Instead, he found himself repeatedly training with players who were not involved in upcoming fixtures and struggled to understand why.

As the striker recalled, Mourinho would simply encourage him to keep working without offering any further explanation. Vinícius admitted he became concerned he had already fallen out of favour and even approached members of the coaching staff to ask whether he had done something wrong.

The answer eventually arrived around ten days later.

Mourinho reportedly told him: "You did not stop working. Now I've seen you're one of mine. I can count on you." Vinícius believes the entire period was a deliberate test of his character and commitment.

The relationship actually began before Vinícius arrived in England.

The striker revealed he initially dismissed suggestions that Mourinho would personally contact him during transfer negotiations. That changed when he received a FaceTime call from the Tottenham manager.

Rather than discussing tactics or expectations, Mourinho joked about England's weather and warned him not to arrive wearing flip-flops. The light-hearted exchange immediately challenged Vinícius' perception of the famously intense coach.

He admitted he expected the stern Mourinho often seen during press conferences, but instead found a manager who regularly messaged him and made a conscious effort to help him settle at the club.

While Mourinho earned the highest praise as a coach, Harry Kane stood out most among Vinícius' teammates.

The Brazilian described Kane as one of the most complete footballers he has ever encountered and suggested many people still underestimate the England captain's overall quality.

What impressed him most was Kane's consistency and professionalism. Vinícius noted that even after scoring a hat-trick, the striker would return the next morning and train exactly as normal.

He also highlighted Gareth Bale, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura as key figures during his time at Spurs.

Lucas Moura, in particular, played an important role off the pitch. With little English upon arriving in England, Vinícius relied heavily on his fellow Brazilian to help him adapt to life in the Premier League.

Although Vinícius has since returned to Brazil and rebuilt his career with Grêmio, Tottenham remains the club he references most when discussing the defining moments of his professional journey.

Having followed Spurs closely during Mourinho's era, stories like this offer a glimpse into why players often speak about the manager's psychological approach as much as his tactical expertise. The account also provides fresh insight into the standards set by senior figures such as Kane within the dressing room.

However, individual experiences inevitably vary between players, and Mourinho's methods have often generated contrasting opinions throughout his managerial career.

Do stories like this help explain why Mourinho continues to command such loyalty from many of his former players?