Mauricio Pochettino exclusive: My Tottenham players have the mental strength to succeed | Football News



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Mauricio Pochettino backed his players after a tough week with a Premier League win over Watford

Mauricio Pochettino backed his players after a tough week with a Premier League win over Watford

Tottenham may have suffered a painful loss in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup against rival Chelsea, then a Crystal Cup exit at the Crystal Cup. team.

Heung-Min Son and Fernando Llorente's goals in the last 10 minutes of the Premier League match at Wembley on Wednesday turned the defeat into a victory and, together with slippages from Manchester City and Liverpool, allowed Tottenham to return to the race. On title.

In the aftermath of the Chelsea penalty shoot-out on Thursday and the ensuing setback at Selhurst Park, Tottenham failed to convert four semifinals and one appearance in the League Cup trophy final. under Pochettino. the big moments.

However, Pochettino, who also saw his team score important goals late in the game against Burnley and Fulham, as well as PSV and Inter Milan during an unlikely leap in the Champions League, did not make it. There is no doubt about the mental strength of his players.

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February 2, 2019, 11:30

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"The mentality is so strong today and we are so happy to have created it," he told Sky Sports on a snowy training ground in Tottenham before their clash. between Sky Live and Newcastle, Saturday.

"I think it was an incredible win over Watford because, 10 minutes before the end, we had created the opportunity to turn the result in. I think it was well deserved, but I think that's what it is. It may be true that people can think "without [injured] Harry Kane, it's going to be difficult. " But [they should] speak very loudly about the mentality and quality of the team.

The mentality is so strong today and we are very happy to have created it.

Mauricio Pochettino

"For me, football is a matter of collective skills, some players may be missing, but in the end you need everyone, and it's so important to keep the mentality." [strong] with everyone."

Pochettino argues that the fine margins at the highest level of the game can sometimes skew perceptions about a team.

"It's hard for people to evaluate us, to be 100% right," he says. "I accept that perception can sometimes be different, but we can handle reality, we can not handle perception.

"Sometimes it's difficult because everything that's measured is the result. If you win, you are the best. When you may not be the best. And when you lose, you are perhaps the worst and maybe not the worst.

Tottenham suffered painful loss in Carabao Cup semi-final at Chelsea

Tottenham suffered painful loss in Carabao Cup semi-final at Chelsea

"In football, the line is so thin that it can turn in one way or another and everything is measured.It is sometimes unfair to football and feeling n & # 39; It's not always nice, but you have to accept it because it's football and how people think today. "

Newcastle's shocked victory over Manchester City earlier this week was a prime example: the defending Premier League champions lost 2-1 despite dominating the match. And Pochettino is fully aware of the fact that his team can not afford to be below his best by welcoming Rafael Benitez's men this weekend.

If they are too involved in discussions about the title race, they could easily be punished.

"It's still important to stop the negative momentum, so the win over Watford was so important, but now you can not stop because we're going to face Newcastle and it's going to be a very important match," he said. -he declares.

If we want to be there until the end, in a good position on the board, I think it's a match to win.

Mauricio Pochettino against Newcastle

"Three other important points: If we want to be there until the end, in a good position in the table, I think it's a match to win.

"I speak very loudly of the Premier League – every club can win against another – one of the champion champions last season and who is fighting for the title this season, it is possible that they are beaten by a team that sits down, which is why the Premier League is the toughest competition in the world.

"For us, we are concerned about the win against Newcastle, the next game and the next, we will see what happens at the end of the season, if we are more than happy. because we can not be here, but thinking too much in advance is a bad thing.

"We have to think about Newcastle, be prepared, circumstances to win the game, and that will put us in a very good position."

Fernando Llorente scored the winning goal against Watford

Fernando Llorente scored the winning goal against Watford

While Kane continues to recover from an ankle injury, Llorente will have another chance to impress ahead for Tottenham on Saturday. The Spaniard had to wait behind the scenes behind Kane since he took office in the summer of 2017, but Pochettino believes his winner against Watford will give him a much needed boost.

"I think it's a boost for him and well deserved," said Pochettino. "He works hard, trains and waits for the opportunity behind an attacker like Harry Kane, one of the best in the world, which is tough and all the attackers need to boost their self-confidence." and feel at the net.

"I think it's so important for him to feel so important, it will strengthen his self-confidence and he'll be an important player to help the team achieve what they want." "

1:21
Mauricio Pochettino is pleased with Harry Kane's progress as he is recovering from an ankle injury, but has not updated his return date

Mauricio Pochettino is pleased with Harry Kane's progress as he is recovering from an ankle injury, but has not updated his return date

The objectives of Llorente could indeed play an important role during the next month and in the end of the business season. But for Pochettino, the key message for his team for the rest of the campaign is to maintain the strong mental attitude they have demonstrated in recovering from adversity.

"It's going to be hard, the second half [of the season]. As always, it's a decisive moment, "he says.

"Maybe we do not get to our best moment because we have injuries to key players but we will try.The determination is to win every game and we will try.Always the attitude and the way you approach the situation is the most important thing, always. "

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