My Spurs players are starting to believe in themselves and it’s paying off, says Pochettino
MAURICIO Pochettino hailed his team’s “belief ” after Lucas Moura’s dramatic late goal sent Tottenham through to the Champions League knockout stages by earning a 1-1 draw at Barcelona.
Spurs, who had to match Inter Milan’s result against PSV Eindhoven, were heading out of the competition and into the Europa League for the second time in three seasons as they trailed to Ousmane Demebele’s early goal for most of the game and the Italians came from behind to level.
But, having missed chance after chance at the Nou Camp, Moura finally came to Spurs’ rescue as he converted Harry Kane’s cross with five minutes remaining.
Pochettino said qualification to the knockout stages showed “what is possible when you have the belief”.
“I want to congratulate the players. They were fantastic and I’m so happy for our fans here and in London and it’s a massive achievement for the club,” the Argentinian said.
“I always believed it was possible to win the game and we made good chances. The goal from Lucas was so important.
“We have the belief and we showed what is possible when you have the belief.”
When asked if he was always aware of the score in the match between Inter and PSV, Pochettino said: “Yes. Jesus (Perez, assistant manager) was next to me saying ‘yes’ and it still wasn’t finished. For two minutes it was very difficult in the dressing room.”
Kane admitted Spurs were wasteful in front of goal.
“Wehadquiteafewchances,it just wasn’t going in but we carried on and got the goal back,” he said.
“We still carried on trying to score more, we weren’t sure what the other score was.
“We’re just buzzing that we’re through. A draw away to Barcelona’s not a bad result.”
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said: “We had the help of PSV it’s true, it was difficult after the early goal but we stuck with our principles and played a very good performance.
“We did not win but we went through. That’s the most important thing. The spirit was fantastic. We deserve it.
“The fans made such a noise that I knew we had gone through.”
It was the least they deserved as only an inspired performance from Barca number two Jasper Cillessen protected his side’s five-year unbeaten run at home in European football, although ultimately Spurs will be grateful to PSV for their favour in Italy.
A long night looked on the cards when the hosts, who were already through as Group B winners BARCELONA: Cillessen, Semedo, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Miranda, Alena, Rakitic (Busquets 45), Melo, Dembele (D Suarez 76), El Haddadi (Messi 63), Coutinho. Subs not used: Ter Stegen, Pique, Alba, Vidal. TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Walker-Peters (Lamela 61), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Winks (Llorente 83), Eriksen, Alli, Son (Moura 71), Kane. Subs not used: Dier, Gazzaniga, Davies, Skipp. Match rating: 7/10
Man of the match: Sissoko
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).
and opted to leave Lionel Messi on the bench, went ahead early on.
When Kyle Walker-Peters went to bed on Monday night he would have been dreaming of a magical night in the Nou Camp, but instead he ended up enduring a nightmare start as he was at fault for Demebele’s seventh-minute opener.
The young right-back, playing his first Champions League game because first-choice pair Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier were injured, was easily robbed of possession by Dembele on the halfway line, then completely outpaced, allowing the France international to race in on goal and slide a finish under Lloris.
It was a start Spurs would have been dreading but, perhaps buoyed by news of PSV’s early goal in Milan, they began to settle into the game and had chances to level.
First Christian Eriksen played in Danny Rose down the left, but the full-back’s low cross just evaded a sliding Son Heung-min, who was then presented with an even better chance.
He was set free by Dele Alli, fought off Thomas Vermaelen’s challenge and went through on goal, but saw Cillessen save his shot with his feet.
In the end Spurs were lucky to go into half-time with their deficit at one as Philippe Coutinho danced his way into the penalty area, but his shot grazed a post and went wide.
Spurs stepped it up after the break and even the introduction of Messi could not stem the tide of attacks, but they could just not find the net.
Things changed when Inter equalised, meaning Spurs now had to score, and they had further chances as Cillessen pulled off a fine save to deny Moura.
Eventually Barca, who hit a post again through Coutinho, saw their luck run out as Spurs grabbed their lifeline five minutes from time.
Kane broke free down the left and centred for Moura, who rammed home from eight yards.
And with PSV holding on at the San Siro, Tottenham could celebrate a place in the last 16.