Pochettino hails Spurs’ ‘best 45 minutes’ despite 1-0 defeat
LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino praised his Tottenham Hotspur side’s “best 45 minutes” in his four-and-a-half years at the club despite a costly 1-0 defeat in the Premier League by Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.
Third-placed Tottenham’s second successive home defeat left them nine points behind league leaders Liverpool and should Manchester City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday to go five clear, it will surely be a two-horse race for the title.
Marcus Rashford’s 44th-minute goal proved decisive as Tottenham threw everything at United after the break with visiting keeper David De Gea making 11 saves -- several of them in the world-class category.
Tottenham were chasing a first league double over United since the 1989-90 season after a 3-0 away victory in August but despite his obvious disappointment Pochettino said Sunday’s performance was much better than the one at Old Trafford.
“I am so pleased and I’m proud,” Pochettino, who is being strongly linked to the Manchester United manager’s job, told reporters. “For me it was one of the best performances that I saw since I’ve been here and the best 45 minutes.
“I think David de Gea made 11 saves, which is unbelievable. We didn’t create much in the first half but we dominated.
“Overall, it was fantastic. My feeling today is the opposite of when we won at Old Trafford. After we won that game 3-0, I wasn’t happy but today after the defeat I’m very pleased with the performance. That’s the way we want to build a team for the future, to be close to win the title.”
POGBA ENJOYING UNDER SOLSKJAER
MANCHESTER: United midfielder Paul Pogba believes returning to an attacking role with freedom to express himself has helped him rediscover his enjoyment for the game, the Frenchman has said.
The World Cup winner has looked a different player under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“I’m enjoying playing my football now,” Pogba told Sky Sports. “I like to be more attacking. I had to defend too much before and that is not my best attribute.”