Conversation Corner: Tottenham vs Manchester City
Mauricio Pochettino:
“Mauricio’s here. Mauricio, congratulations. I mean what a fantastic performance, what did you think of the game?”
“I think pretty good result. Never easy to play against a team like Manchester City, after Wednesday, and very pleased very happy for the players — big effort — and for our supporters, I think they deserve this type of victory.”
“Never easy to play Manchester City and never easy to go 1-0 down against Manchester City because then hey can pick you off on the break aren’t they? But we turned it around.”
“Yes I think fantastic character we showed. We have a very young squad but we showed big personality and character and this is important. Step by step, game by game and we need to keep our feet on the grass and this is very important. But we know, this is the way — the way that we take — and this is important, we believe in our philosophy and only we need to try to win every game.”
“We keep our feet on the ground is an important message, but at the same time that does show what this team is capable of, doesn’t it?”
“Yes I think we have a big potential, we can improve. This is important, the potential to improve is massive because we are very young. And this is important to keep working hard and seriously concentrate and it will show.”
“I know you don’t like talking about individuals, but I’m going to ask you anyways. Érik Lamela, I mean we spoke about Érik during the week and he seems to be getting better and better and that he was very good today.”
“Yes, I think it was very good, I was very happy for him. He deserved a lot — all that happened today. But in the end, football is collective and I think they deserved the best from us and I think very happy. Very happy very pleased I think that it’s a good step up.”
“Have you said anything to Érik, have you spoken to him? You’ve bound to have down, because he’s had some difficult time at Spurs, we know that, but he’s coming through it, isn’t he?”
“Yes, in football you know, never is easy. When you arrive, you are young — big club like Tottenham, big pressure — and when you are injured in second season, no easy for him to play. And only they need time and believe in them and translate the confidence.”
“And the second player I must ask you about and everyone asks you about every week — we don’t, but I’m gonna ask you today — Harry Kane has scored his goal. His work rate has been fantastic all season, we’ve seen him every game, but you will recognize this as an important goal for him isn’t it? “
“Yes very important for him. But I think last season he started to score maybe in this moment, in this time. But we are not worried about him, only the people that — it’s normal — who expect from him that scored in every game. I think but now, it’s to pull out, or to take off the pressure for him and for all the team. And for me too, because the media, every press conference, every interview ask me about Harry Kane and now maybe it will be different.”
“Last thing I must ask you, when the fourth goal went in. I see Toni Jiménez has run off over there, the guys are jumping up and down, Jesús is running around and around. It was a brilliant moment wasn’t it?”
“Yes, always a brilliant moment but the manager need to be calm [laughs]“
Next: Eric Dier