Pochettino’s belief in players decisive factor in historic Tottenham win

While Tottenham’s epic comeback victory in Amsterdam defied logic, it was a magnificent reminder of how impactful belief, momentum and desire are in a sport that has the power to bring us to tears. 

Tears of joy, it turns out, are far more overwhelming than tears of despair.

Diehard Spurs supporters have invariably shed tears of despair during their time backing the North London club. But the everlasting scars of past defeats are precisely what made the elation of Wednesday’s 3-2 last-gasp victory over Ajax all the more special.

Spurs never led on aggregate and waited over 190 minutes over two legs to nudge ahead, punching their ticket to Madrid and stamping an indelible mark on Champions League folklore.

The belief Spurs showed is a direct reflection of Mauricio Pochettino’s ability to motivate and inspire, even in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

The best leaders in the world inspire through believing unconditionally in their team. If one man goes down, the next will fill the void with unerring belief. It’s exactly that type of belief that so often proves decisive at football’s most elite level.

Belief in the process, in each another and in their own ability lifted Spurs to a first European final since 1984. But this achievement hasn’t come out of the blue, as Pochettino has been meticulously paving a golden path since arriving in North London five years ago.

The ironic benefit of Tottenham’s inactive transfer policy

While countless journalists and supporters have criticized Tottenham for their lack of movement in the transfer market – including me – ironically, it’s this strategy that has, albeit inadvertently, helped lift them to the most eminent of Champions League heights.

Many reasons exist for Tottenham’s reluctance to  dip into the transfer market but the belief Pochettino has in his players, along with the camaraderie they’ve built as a collective, played a role in the club’s decisive abstention from bringing new assets to North London.

The few players Pochettino added, including Fernando Llorente, Moussa Sissoko and Lucas Moura, fit in perfectly off the field upon arriving at the club, helping maintain the club’s delicate, cohesive equilibrium.

And nobody needs reminding of Llorente and Moura’s staggering on-field contributions during a magical night in Amsterdam. Not to mention the fact that Sissoko is vying for player of

year honours at the club.

Unbreakable bonds between players have blossomed under Pochettino’s tutelage, a palpable togetherness that has never been more apparent than in the last two Champions League rounds.

While each player deserves plaudits for their strength of character, this learned behaviour again stems from Pochettino’s psyche..

In Simon Sinek’s bestselling novel, Leaders Eat Last, Sinek refers to the fact that leaders in the Marine Corps always eat after everybody else.

“Great leaders will sacrifice their interests for the good of those in their care,” Sinek said.

Pochettino is a perfect example of a leader who would sacrifice everything for the good of the collective. You get the impression that Pochettino would starve before seeing any of his players go unfed.

Spurs supporters can relate to the release of raw emotion from the gaffer on Wednesday evening. Overcome by the circumstances of the comeback, the meaningfulness of the occasion and his unbridled love for Tottenham, an awe-inspiring scene transpired that will never again be replicated.

https://twitter.com/Football__Tweet/status/1126231872059650048

Of course belief is nothing without pedigree and preparation, but Tottenham’s refusal to capitulate is a testament to the enduring, unshakable culture Pochettino has cultivated since his arrival from Southampton.

Managers like Pochettino come around as rarely as a berth in the Champions League final, so let’s hope his “superheroes” can put together one more otherworldly performance in Madrid next month, when our beloved Spurs face Liverpool in the club’s most important match in a generation.