Pochettino pessimistic as Tottenham’s chances fade
EINDHOVEN: Mauricio Pochettino conceded Tottenham will need little short of a miracle to get past the group stage after the Premier League giants’ Champions League hopes were dented by a 2-2 draw away to PSV Eindhoven.
With no points from their opening two Group B fixtures, this was make-or-break for both Spurs and PSV.
Spurs looked to have the points wrapped up after England striker Harry Kane nodded past Jeroen Zoet to give the visitors a 55thminute lead having seen Lucas Moura level Hirving Lozano’s 30th-minute opener for PSV minutes before the interval.
But when Lozano threatened to catch a through ball in the 78th minute, Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris came rushing out of his goal and caught the winger with his knee. The French World Cup winner was immediately shown a red card, with Spurs manager Mauricio Pocchettino taking off Heung-min Son for secondchoice ‘keeper Michel Vorm.
Vorm’s first task was to push away a superb free-kick at the base of the post, only to be caught ball-watching when De Jong
We’ll see what happens now with Barca and Inter. One point after three games — it will be so difficult MAURICIO POCHETTINO, Tottenham coach
poked a loose ball past him with three minutes left on the clock.
It saw Spurs locked with PSV on one point in Group B, eight points behind Barcelona and six adrift second-placed Inter Milan.
“In the end (it was) a draw and (it leaves us) with the minimum possibility to go to the next stage of the Champions League,” Pochettino said.
“We’ll see what happens now with Barcelona and Inter Milan. One point after three games — it will be so difficult. If you score more goals, at the end you’re going to win the game. That’s why we’re so disappointed.”