Coach hails ‘mature’ Spurs

– Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed his side’s maturity after taking a huge step towards the Champions League last-16 by holding defending champions Real Madrid 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

The English side had to rely on two stunning second-half saves from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (above) to deny Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, but were good value for a point that keeps them level with Madrid on seven points at the top of Group H.

“It was a magnificent opportunity to show we can compete and play against a team used to playing at this level,” said Pochettino.

Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 draw at APOEL Nicosia means the Germans and Cypriots remain six points adrift of the group leaders.

Spurs crashed out at the group stages last year against less exalted opposition, and Pochettino hailed the progression of his young side over the past 12 months.

“We are a team in construction. Last year against Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow we managed just seven points, this year against teams like Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and APOEL we already have seven points.

“It has been an important step forward. The team is competing and that is something that has to give us confidence to continue on the way we have chosen to do things.

“The potential the club has for the future is huge.”

Lloris’ heroics also drew praise from his French compatriot and Real boss Zinedine Zidane.

“Benzema’s header is one of those where Lloris saves it one in every 10,” said Zidane, who couldn’t hide his disappointment at dropping two points at home.

But Lloris hailed Spurs’ resistence against a side that has won the Champions League in three of the past four seasons.

“It was a great challenge for a young team, to show the face of Tottenham against the best team in the world,” Lloris told BT Sport. – AFP