FIGHT DIER WITH FIRE

Poch so proud of his enforcer Eric .. and of that ‘nice’ tackle in Seville

IT IS THE tackle still being celebrated as the calling card of the new England.

The signal from Eric Dier which made it clear to Spain’s Sergio Ramos that the Three Lions would no longer be intimidated by their higherprofile opponents.

The sliding challenge in Seville that sparked a first win against the former world and European champions on their own turf for 31 years.

No wonder Mauricio Pochettino was a happy man.

“Of course.” smiled the Spurs boss. “The tackle was nice, eh? It was good.

“He touched the ball, he was aggressive.”

Made in north London, Dier’s reducer was the product of the same mentality that has inspired Spurs to take Arsenal’s place in the Champions League.

The same character that ended the Gunners’ 22-year run of finishing above their neighbours and bitter rivals in the Premier League.

The same determination that ended Tottenham’s 28year losing streak at Chelsea.

The same will-to-win 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 today’s trip to West Ham he added: “In England, it’s never a foul.

“Of course, in Europe it’s different. But to be brave like this.. look, Dier, a holding midfielder, was pressing Sergio Ramos in the penalty area and that is the mentality that, from day one, we tried to translate to the players.

“I feel proud about that. It’s a fantastic attitude, that always we need to keep pushing.”

Pochettino and his assistant, Jesus Perez, are the men who have replaced the need for finance with a ferocious will- to-win. Tottenham are no longer a side that has sand kicked in their faces.

They respect everyone but fear no one.

It is the reason why, despite being the only club not to sign a player during the summer, they continue to keep pace in the title race.

Their current run – their joint-best start in the Premier League – including that 3-0 win at Manchester United, their first at Old Trafford under Pochettino after four straight defeats without scoring.

Why? Because of tackles just like Dier’s on Ramos.

“The signal you send to your opponents is important,” Pochettino added. “You have to say: ‘We are not scared of you. We have come here and we want to beat you.’

“Always it’s about the attitude as well as talent.”