Spurs squander two-goal lead, settle for draw
PIRAEUS,GREECE: Tottenham failed to get off to a winning start in the Champions League as last season’s finalists let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Olympiakos in Greece on Wednesday.
Despite a slow start, two goals in four minutes from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura put Spurs on course for what would have been a vital win in group B.
Olympiakos fought back and are now unbeaten in their last 18 games in all competitions stretching back to February. They were well worthy of at least a point as Daniel Podence and Mathieu Valbuena struck either side of halftime. A point away in front of a passionate crowd in Piraeus is not a disastrous start for Pochettino’s men, who took just one point from their opening three group games last season before an improbable run to the final.
“Last season we didn’t start too well and had to play catch up,” said Kane. “This is only the first game and we are definitely backing ourselves to go through.”
However, there will be concern for Pochettino that Spurs have won just two of their opening six games this season and face the might of Bayern Munich next in the Champions League.
“We put ourselves in a great position,” added Kane. “But conceding a goal before half time changed the momentum.”
Pochettino said it was not an issue with the team’s mentality but a question of managing in-game situations to come away with all three points.
“We need to improve like we need to improve in all the aspects,” Pochettino told reporters ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leicester City. “We need to improve in this type of situation... Leading 2-0 against Arsenal, leading 2-0 against Olympiakos.
“I think we are not talking about quality, we are talking about in this type of situation managing the game better and dealing better with this type of situation.
“A few months ago we were in the final of the Champions League and we were not talking about mentality. We got a lot of praise because we were in the final. We need to create a dynamic to match every opponent.”