Tottenham’s pre-match preparations were interrupted as Spurs issued a statement condemning Giovani Lo Celso, Erik Lamela and Sergio Reguilon after the pair were pictured attending a Christmas party together.
Spurs were “deeply disappointed” with the COVID-19 protocol breach, and Leeds started brightly in north London as Mourinho’s mood threatened to sour further.
But for all Leeds’ good play and hard work, they were undone by their own gameplan as Spurs twice caught out Bielsa’s men for playing out from the back.
After an open start, Spurs took the lead just before the half-hour from the penalty spot. Steven Bergwijn was tripped by Ezgjan Alioski as Spurs intercepted slack play from Leeds, and Harry Kane made no mistake from 12 yards.
Spurs doubled their lead just before the break as Son Heung-min scored his 100th goal for the club. He clipped home at the near post from Kane’s cross as the pair combined for the 13th time in the league this season – a joint divisional record – after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stole possession high up again.
Spurs got a third five minutes after the restart as Meslier could not keep out Toby Alderweireld’s header from a corner, with goal-line technology ruling the ball had crossed the line.
Spurs could and should have added more goals as Leeds time and again conceded possession in dangerous areas, with Bielsa’s gameplan coming unstuck against Mourinho’s high press – though Matt Doherty’s injury-time red card was a late frustration for the Portuguese coach.
The victory takes Spurs third in the table, four points behind Liverpool and Manchester United, and preserves Mourinho’s perfect winning record against Bielsa – extending the run to five wins out of five with an aggregate score of 18-2