MODEL PUPILS
MAURICIO POCHETTINO looked into his players’ eyes and immediately knew they were ready.
Tottenham face their biggest game of the season against Borussia Dortmund while running on empty with a depleted squad, because of injuries to England duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
Lesser squads would already have given up, but Spurs have summoned extra energy and courage to leave Pochettino (circle) convinced they can overcome the Bundesliga leaders.
Tottenham have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League games – the best run in the top flight – and are clinging on in the title race as they defiantly refuse to give up on catching Liverpool and Manchester City.
They face problems all over the pitch with Pochettino having to lift a patched-up squad through a gruelling schedule. And yet a team meeting ahead of this match has left the Spurs boss convinced they’re capable of another big push. Pochettino said: “The key now is you need to find your energy in your motivation, in your own motivation. And of course that extra charge is there, and I think we’re going to arrive in a very good condition.
“I saw on TV that from the beginning of December we’re the best team in the Premier League. That talked very highly about the squad and they fully deserve all the credit.
“We’re doing a fantastic job, the players are giving their best in difficult circumstances, and I am so proud to be in front of these players.
“I’ve described, in the last few days, that it was a little bit unfair (the schedule), but there is no excuse not to arrive in our best condition and fight to try to win. I think you can feel in the eyes of the players the energy.
“We were talking in the meeting before and it’s completely different. If you ask me why, I don’t know, because I’m a person whose own motivation is always high, when we play against Dortmund or Barcelona, or we play against different teams in
VERTONGHEN is ready to ease Tottenham’s growing injury worries – and insists Harry Kane and Dele Alli will be back for the second leg against Dortmund.
Defender Vertonghen is set to fill in at left-back tonight with Danny Rose and Ben Davies both crocked.
The Belgian (right) said: “I’m always available for any position TOTTENHAM different competitions. But you can feel that it’s the Champions League, that it’s going to be a massive game with, I hope, a full stadium at Wembley – the energy and motivation is going to be there.
“If not, if we’re not ready to compete and play in this type of place and situation, you can start to think we have some problem.
“But I think we’re going to find the energy and give our best to try to be close DORTMUND TV TIMES: Live on BT Sport 2 from 7pm where the team needs me. It’s a tough fixture for us but we’ve shown last year against Real Madrid that we can beat everyone.”
Vertonghen is adamant that Alli and Kane will make the second leg, adding: “We know a couple of the guys will come back. A good result at home is helpful if you have to go to a tough place like Dortmund.” to winning.” Spurs (Christian Eriksen, above) did the double over Dortmund last season in the group stage, but the Germans are in better form this time and top the Bundesliga.
Dortmund arguably start as favourites and yet Pochettino made it clear he is not just thinking about beating them in this tie but going much further in the competition.
He added: “We are going to face a team that is top of the table in the Bundesliga, is doing well and is a really competitive team.
“And of course it is going to be tough. But with all respect to our opponent, I am a person who always believes we can beat any team.
“It’s different – a different year, season and momentum. The period is completely different. Of course, we believe and we have an amazing motivation to play because it’s the last 16 of the Champions League.
“Everyone wants to play, everyone is excited. But we’re not thinking about last year. We just need to be ready to compete in our best way.”