Mourinho thanks ballboy for helping set up Harry Kane's equaliser against Olympiacos

A Tottenham ball boy was an unlikely key player in their equaliser during Tuesday's 4-2 win over Olympiacos.

Jose Mourinho shakes the hand of a ball boy after helping Spurs score against Olympiacos

Jose Mourinho was thrilled by "an important assist" in Tottenham's 4-2 comeback win against Olympiacos, but it was not provided by one of his players – rather a Spurs ball boy.

Tottenham endured a woeful start to Mourinho's first home match at the helm as it found itself 2-0 down inside 19 minutes, with Youssef El-Arabi and Ruben Semedo putting the away side in charge.

But Dele Alli pulled one back just before half-time and then, shortly after the break, came Harry Kane's equaliser.

The goal might not have been possible were it not for the quick thinking of a ball boy, however, as he swiftly got the ball back to Serge Aurier for a throw-in while Olympiacos' defence was out of shape, and Lucas Moura subsequently set up Kane.

 

Aurier then got a stunning goal of his own before Kane wrapped the win up, but Mourinho's focus was on the preparedness of the child rather than his players.

"To do that, you have to be a very good ball boy," Mourinho, who embraced the boy after the goal, told reporters. "I was, between 10 and 16 years old, a very good ball boy and he was a very good ball boy.

"He was reading the game, understanding the game and wasn't looking at the stands. He made an important assist.

"I wanted to invite him to the dressing room to celebrate with the players, but he had disappeared."

The win for Spurs ensured it heads into its final group outing against Bayern Munich having already made sure of progression to the next stage.