Dier slide show a Spurs special
MAURICIO Pochettino says Eric Dier’s statement tackle on Sergio Ramos that underlined the new England was tried and tested at Tottenham.
Dier’s sliding challenge on the Spain enforcer earned a booking but also sent the message England would not be bullied, sparking a first away win against the former world and European champions for 31 years.
“The tackle was nice, eh? The tackle was good,” said Pochettino. “He touched the ball. He was aggressive.”
Dier’s challenge was the product of the mentality that has inspired Spurs to take Arsenal’s place in the Champions League and end Tottenham’s 28-year losing streak at Chelsea.
It underlines the resolve that has seen Pochettino’s players defy the odds to elbow their way into the top four and retain their place for the past three seasons.
Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s trip to West Ham. Pochettino said: “In England it’s never a foul. In Europe it’s different, but in England it’s never a foul.
“To be brave like this – Dier, a holding midfielder, was pressing Sergio Ramos in the penalty area – that is the mentality that, from day one, we tried to translate to the players. Of course I feel proud about that. It’s a fantastic attitude, that we always need to keep.”
Pochettino and his assistant, Jesus Perez, are the men who have replaced the need for finance with a ferocious will to win. Spurs are no longer packed with players who have had sand kicked in their faces. They respect everyone but fear no one.
Despite being the only Premier League club not to sign a player during the summer, they continue to keep pace in the title race.
Their current run includes the remarkable 3-0 win at Manchester United, the first at Old Trafford under Pochettino after four straight defeats without scoring.
“The signal that you send to your opponents is important,” he said. “You have to say, ‘We are not scared of you. We come here and we want to beat you’.
“OK, we can play good or bad but always it is about the attitude. You can’t win always but you are going to have the possibility to win with that attitude. “Football is about attitude and then talent. With only talent you cannot beat any team. But talent with attitude is everything.” Pochettino did warn Dier not to get carried away by the tributes after his display in Spain. The midfielder was criticised for his performance in the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool this season – the perfect example for his boss to keep him grounded. “I always tell the players they need to keep improving,” said Pochettino. “When you don’t perform as well, you need to move on and forget. “But it’s the same when you play well and get a very good result. Then, you need to move on and try to repeat the same performance.”
West Ham are certainly ready for any repeat, with manager Manuel Pellegrini saying: “My players have the experience to know how to react.
“We bought players that I and the sporting director knew were able to do it. We work with them every day here and they see all the games, they are professional players so we don’t need to explain all the things.”
Trying to halt Harry Kane, described as “one of the best players in the league, in the world” by Pellegrini, will be another big task for West Ham. That burden will fall on the centre-back duo of Paraguay’s Fabian Balbuena and French youngster Issa Diop.
The summer signings, both new arrivals to English football, have emerged as Pellegrini’s first-choice pair, starting six league games
together.