Mourinho has stuck to a fairly consistent first XI in the Premier League this season, and has been rewarded by them leading the table with 11 games played.
However, he once again took the opportunity to rest players on Thursday, including in-form attacking pair Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, instead giving minutes to the likes of Gareth Bale, Carlos Vinicius and Harry Winks.
Some rose to the occasion, with Vinicius tapping in the opener after visiting goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand palmed Bale’s dipping, long-range free-kick on to the post.
Giovani lo Celso was the best player on the pitch, capping his display with a neat finish for the second, laid on by substitute Kane.
Others, though, endured a frustrating night, including Harry Winks, who departed down the tunnel straight after being substituted, and Dele Alli, who did not feature at all and also left the bench briefly after Mourinho had made his fifth and final change.
“I can’t keep the squad happy,” Mourinho told BT Sport. “I believe they are happy because we are winning but they’re not happy because they’re not playing.
“Every player that left the pitch I told them to go to the shower because it was cold. Some decided to go and some decided to stay.
“It’s an impossible job to keep every player happy and if you go to every club people who don’t play aren’t happy.”
On Alli in particular, he added: “Let’s not run away from reality. A player on the bench who realises all five subs have been used of course is not a happy player and I would not expect him to be happy.”
England midfielders Alli and Winks have started just four games each this season. The former’s last start in the Premier League was the first game of the season, while the latter’s was in September.
It was noticeable how much more energetic and dangerous Spurs were when Kane and Son were introduced, resulting in the second goal that sealed the win.
As group winners, Tottenham will be in the seeded pot for Monday’s draw, which should bring them a more favourable tie in the last 32. Antwerp join them as unseeded group runners-up.
Lo Celso stakes his claim
Antwerp beat a very lacklustre Spurs in the reverse fixture in October, in which Mourinho made four changes at half-time and voiced his displeasure about it afterwards, including in an Instagram picture of himself alone on the team bus.
Tottenham were better than that on Thursday, but only just in a dour first half that yielded few chances and little evidence that those on the periphery of the first team are deserving of a Premier League start.
Spurs’ second string were able to take the lead thanks to Vinicius’ third Tottenham goal, all of which have come in this competition, but it was telling that Mourinho turned to his attacking big guns almost immediately to ensure the win.
“The game is open, when I thought about the changes the result was 0-0 then we scored a goal but that didn’t change my mind,” said Mourinho.
“We needed a little bit more of routines which these players (Kane, Son and Tanguy Ndombele) have, and the intensity. They had the intensity because they play week in, week out.
“We managed to keep Antwerp away from our goal. Joe Hart didn’t make a single save. 0-0 at half time – I thought in the second half with bit of intensity they will collapse.
“It was a great free kick from Gareth Bale and a striker smelling the second ball to score. The decision was made. Harry is Harry and Sonny is intense.”
There was an instant lift from the substitutions, with Son drawing a good save from Beiranvand before Kane headed just wide from a corner.
Lo Celso ensured the win, capping a man-of-the-match display in which he was at the heart of much of the night’s positivity with a cool, prodded finish.
The Argentine started in the north London derby win over Arsenal at the weekend and deserves to retain his place when they visit Crystal Palace on Sunday (14:15 GMT), although playing 90 minutes here may count against him.
Many of the rest of this team are likely to have to wait for the last 32 in this competition, which takes place in February.
Kane leads assist league in Europe’s top leagues
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has 13 assists in all competitions this season, the most of any player within Europe’s top-five leagues – three ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne with 10.
- Including qualifiers, Spurs have won seven of their nine European matches in 2020-21 (D1 L1).
- Spurs have recorded six consecutive home wins in all competitions for the first time since December 2018.
- In all competitions, Tottenham’s Harry Kane has been directly involved in more goals in 18 appearances this season (27 – 14 goals, 13 assists) than he was in 34 appearances in 2019-20 (26 – 24 goals, two assists).
- Carlos Vinicius has been directly involved in six goals in three Europa League appearances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (three goals, three assists).
- Jose Mourinho has won 18 of his past 19 home matches in games played on Thursday (D1), winning all five with Tottenham.
- Spurs have won 15 of their 18 home Europa League group-stage matches (D2 L1).
