Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham now 'among the best in Europe' after stunning Real Madrid win
Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham now 'among the best in Europe' after stunning Real Madrid win
Dele Alli scored twice for Tottenham against Real Madrid
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham belong among Europe's elite after they blew away Real Madrid to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.
Spurs followed up a 1-1 draw a fortnight ago with a superb performance against the competition's defending champions at Wembley and ran out 3-1 winners courtesy of Dele Alli's double and a strike from Christian Eriksen.
Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back late on for the LaLiga club but that could not prevent Tottenham marching into the tournament's last 16.
"This sort of win brings with it certain consequences in terms of making us more visible. It's something that everyone around Europe will have seen," Pochettino said.
"These are two games against Real in which we've competed really well.
"You've all seen today that Tottenham is a big team; we're playing at Wembley in front of 80,000 people and these are really historic occasions.
"We now belong in and among the best, not only in England but in Europe, and results like this help people to see that this is where we are going."
Spurs' European success stands in direct contrast to last season's dismal Champions League campaign, in which they were eliminated after four matches.
Argentinian Pochettino is delighted with the progress made, especially given the difficult draw they were handed this year.
"After last year when we were in the Champions League and we were out of the running in the group stage with two games to play, this year we're in a very difficult group with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel (Nicosia), who have shown in their performances against Borussia that they're no pushovers," he added.
"What's important for us at the moment is that we are going through a phase of consolidation, we're growing in confidence, we are starting to believe in our potential and in our qualities.
"We're able to compete now with the biggest teams on a physical and a mental level and this is preparing us very well for what's coming in the future, and in particular in order for us to achieve the goals we have.
"Those goals are always to win and to win big competitions, this is what we dream of. We're certainly moving in the right direction."
Real coach Zinedine Zidane said he was not too concerned by the result and admitted the better team won.
The disappointing defeat in London followed a league loss to Girona which left Real eight points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
"No, I'm not worried and I never will be worried this season, whatever is happening out on the field of play," the Frenchman said.
"Tonight, we'll do this analysis of the game. But ultimately we came up against a better team who put in a better performance on the night. That's something that we have to accept.
"It wasn't that we played badly, we had chances to draw level at 1-0 down but, as is happening recently, things just didn't go our way and the ball just didn't go in."
Spurs followed up a 1-1 draw a fortnight ago with a superb performance against the competition's defending champions at Wembley and ran out 3-1 winners courtesy of Dele Alli's double and a strike from Christian Eriksen.
Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back late on for the LaLiga club but that could not prevent Tottenham marching into the tournament's last 16.
"This sort of win brings with it certain consequences in terms of making us more visible. It's something that everyone around Europe will have seen," Pochettino said.
"These are two games against Real in which we've competed really well.
"You've all seen today that Tottenham is a big team; we're playing at Wembley in front of 80,000 people and these are really historic occasions.
"We now belong in and among the best, not only in England but in Europe, and results like this help people to see that this is where we are going."
Spurs' European success stands in direct contrast to last season's dismal Champions League campaign, in which they were eliminated after four matches.
Argentinian Pochettino is delighted with the progress made, especially given the difficult draw they were handed this year.
"After last year when we were in the Champions League and we were out of the running in the group stage with two games to play, this year we're in a very difficult group with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel (Nicosia), who have shown in their performances against Borussia that they're no pushovers," he added.
"What's important for us at the moment is that we are going through a phase of consolidation, we're growing in confidence, we are starting to believe in our potential and in our qualities.
"We're able to compete now with the biggest teams on a physical and a mental level and this is preparing us very well for what's coming in the future, and in particular in order for us to achieve the goals we have.
"Those goals are always to win and to win big competitions, this is what we dream of. We're certainly moving in the right direction."
Real coach Zinedine Zidane said he was not too concerned by the result and admitted the better team won.
The disappointing defeat in London followed a league loss to Girona which left Real eight points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
"No, I'm not worried and I never will be worried this season, whatever is happening out on the field of play," the Frenchman said.
"Tonight, we'll do this analysis of the game. But ultimately we came up against a better team who put in a better performance on the night. That's something that we have to accept.
"It wasn't that we played badly, we had chances to draw level at 1-0 down but, as is happening recently, things just didn't go our way and the ball just didn't go in."
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