Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho insists they can handle missing out on Europe.

Tottenham host 11th-placed Everton in a fixture which has emerged as an unlikely six-pointer with the Toffees able to leapfrog Spurs with victory in north London.

Spurs have finished in the top six every year since the 2008/09 season, and asked if he believes they can keep that run going, Mourinho said: "I believe, but it is also possible that does not happen. And if that does not happen it is not the end of the world. If that does not happen, it is probably the beginning of a new world because things change.

"Change for you, change for other clubs. The squads they change. The motivations they change, the group dynamic changes. The group that possibly was strong 10 years is ago is not strong anymore. A player that was in the maximum of his motivation is not anymore and vice-versa.

"It is also possible that we don't get into a top-six position.

"And if that happens of course we have to look at it not smiling, but we have to look at it with optimism and look at it with a professional profile of next season has to be different.

"Because if you analyse Tottenham for example last year, how many matches did Tottenham win away from home? When I arrived I think it was almost a year without an away victory.

"If it happens (finishing outside of the top six), it happens but we don't want it to happen and we are going to fight for it not to happen."