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Fansided

Tottenham’s Season in Ten Matches

By Ryan Wrenn

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Mauricio Pochettino manager of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the travelling fans after victory in the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on April 18, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Mauricio Pochettino manager of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the travelling fans after victory in the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on April 18, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: A general view of play during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina at White Hart Lane on February 25, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: A general view of play during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina at White Hart Lane on February 25, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Tottenham 3 – 0 Fiorentina, February 25th

Pochettino took the Europa League just a smidgen more serious than Tottenham had taken Europe’s second tier international club competition in years past. While he still rotated the side to play the mid-week matches, he also made sure to include a few starting XI regulars to steady the ship.

The results were mostly positive right up until Tottenham hit a brick wall known as Borussia Dortmund. There were some disappointing draws and one notable loss — see above — but by the time Tottenham reached the knockout round against Fiorentina it seemed possible that they could continue to thrive in this competition.

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That assumption was called into question in the first leg of that round however. Fiorentina came hard at Tottenham and earned a 1-1 draw in Florence, meaning that Tottenham would have to hold on in the home fixture to progress.

Pochettino declined to do anything dramatic. He started virtually the same side that earned the draw in Florence at White Hart Lane.

Whatever talking to the players got in the week since the disappointing draw evidently got to them. Mason scored his first goal since coming back from injury in the 24th minute, and Tottenham held on until Lamela and Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez could add to the tally and make it 3-0. It was sweet redemption, one that would have been all the sweeter had Dortmund not waited for them in the next round.

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