According to an article on ESPN.com Mauricio Pochettino has insisted he never doubted his team as the lads ended their Premier League slump with a 5-1 thumping win against Stoke at Wembley on Saturday.
Harry Kane scored twice and the article says it ended a run of four league games without a win and also how we became the first Premier League club to beat the same opponent by four goals or more in four consecutive matches.
It adds how Ryan Shawcross’ own goal gave us a first-half lead and Son Heung-Min and Christian Eriksen also scored before Shawcross added a late consolation for the Potters.
“I was never nervous and there was never any doubt about the team,” Pochettino said. “I am confident, I was confident because trust in the team and our job. It’s only there are some not so good moments in every team.
Pochettino continued: “After [Wednesday’s 3-0 win against] Apoel and today only we need to see the future and stay optimistic and try to keep this level for the next few games.The first goal is always important because you can believe more, and it makes the game go a different way. It’s important to start the game by scoring. The last few games we started behind which makes it more difficult.
Pochettino added “We saw Chelsea [in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham] today, it was difficult for them because they conceded an early goal. In the Premier League it’s always difficult to play. The teams are so tough and it’s so competitive. So I am happy because we played better, we deserved it, and that performance can help us for the next few games.”
The article describes how Harry Kane reached 50 goals for club and country in 2017 and he can break Alan Shearer’s 1995 record for 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year if he scores four more in the next five games.
“For me, he is one of the best [in the world], if not the best,” Pochettino said. “There is no doubt for me. But even if he hadn’t scored today I wouldn’t have changed my mind, for me he is one of the best. It’s a fantastic record because he’s scored a lot of goals this year.Sonny was very good. I am so happy with his performance, he is playing very well and is important for the team. To score a goal is always important, we need our offensive players to score and his contributions today were fantastic.”
Asked if Son, who has scored five goals in his last six starts, is underrated, Pochettino said: “I think we give him the credit that he deserves. But I don’t know what the people or the media say about him and if you all recognise his talent and his job — that is not my problem. We gave him and will give him the credit he deserves not only because he is a good player but because he is a great professional and a great kid. He’s a lovely kid and it’s fantastic to work with him.”
It also says Pochettino was asked if Erik Lamela, who made a 25-minute substitute appearance, could still make Argentina’s World Cup squad, after returning from a 13-month injury last month.
“Lamela will be important for the rest of the season for us,” the Spurs manager replied. “It’s always important to have available his quality, to make the team more competitive and he gives us that different option to play.
Pochettino added “I hope and I wish that the national team will call him, because he is a great talent and he deserves to be at the next World Cup. It is not my decision of course but I hope because his quality is fantastic. First of all he needs to show here in Tottenham that he should be selected for the national team. We are going to push him to show his real quality in the future.”
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