BARCELONA • Mauricio Pochettino hailed his players for achieving "mission impossible" after Tottenham completed an improbable turnaround to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
The 1-1 draw at Barcelona put the exclamation point on Spurs' European campaign to consign their nightmare start in Group B to distant memory.
Pochettino's men had garnered only a point from their opening three games, but arrived at the Nou Camp knowing that Inter Milan had to better their result to go through.
The Spanish champions had already qualified as group winners and their much-changed line-up gave the away fans hope with Barca coach Ernesto Valverde handing Juan Miranda and Carles Alena their Champions League debuts.
Munir El Haddadi played up front while Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Sergio Busquets all dropped to the bench as Valverde opted to rest his regulars ahead of the Spanish champions' LaLiga trip to Levante on Sunday.
But Spurs' plight looked bleak when Ousmane Dembele's sensational individual strike put them on the back foot in the group decider.
Yet Lucas Moura's late leveller ensured the Premier League club would reach the knockout phase for only the third time in their history. They were indebted, however, to PSV Eindhoven, who held Inter to a surprise 1-1 draw at the San Siro.
After sneaking above the Italian Serie A side due to a better head-to-head record, Pochettino declared it was a "massive motivation" with Spurs' new stadium expected to be ready when the last-16 ties take place in February.
NEVER SAY NEVER
I'm so happy, so proud, I remember that after PSV, no one believed in us, it was mission impossible but we are here, we're in the next round.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO, Tottenham manager, on his team's achievement especially after collecting only a point at the halfway mark of three games.
"I'm so happy, so proud, I remember that after PSV, no one believed in us, it was mission impossible but we are here, we're in the next round," he told reporters.
"It's a massive achievement for the club, we're happy for the fans here and around the world, it's a massive boost for the club, to be able to play in the knockout rounds next year in the new stadium."
The Argentinian admitted that he and his players were caught in two minds over whether to try to hold on for the draw or seek a winner after news filtered through about Mauro Icardi's second-half equaliser for Inter.
Hirving Lozano had opened the scoring for Dutch champions PSV.
"It was difficult to manage the last 10 minutes. The players knew the result of Inter, but it is difficult to translate what to do to the field," he said.
"You have to score to win but, if you concede and lose the game, maybe you talk in a different way afterwards."
The manager also felt progression from a group that had opponents of genuine European pedigree ranked among his greatest achievements since taking over Spurs in 2014.
"It was so difficult to manage everything inside, but we made a fantastic effort. To see and celebrate with everyone after four years and a half was great, it was the first time I felt something really special," he added.
"The connection is amazing, but we need to be clever about how we manage that energy tonight."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR out the Video assistant referee (VAR) system did not work and the match was interrupted during the 2nd leg of CAF champion league
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1 Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Burnley - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 6, 2019 Burnleys Ashley Barnes scores their third goal REUTERS/Peter Nicholls (Reuters) - Burnley made a big step towards securing Pr
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1
Apr 22, 2019 · Mike Phelan is in line to become Manchester United's new technical director as the club embark on another huge rebuilding job. Phelan, 56, has been working as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's No. 2
Edwin van der Sar is the ideal architect for Manchester
Pochettino conceded he had blundered with his game-plan, but the Tottenham manager was also angry with the lethargic way his players started the club's first European Cup semi-final for 57 years. "Watching now of course I can accept it was a mistake the shape we used. But there were not too many options," Pochettino told BT Sport. "I am not happy.
'I made a mistake': Pochettino takes blame but slams 'sloppy
Mohamed Salah statistics - 26 years_old Liverpool Attacking Midfielder (Centre, Left, Right) / Forward. Check out his latest detailed stats including goals, assists, strengths & weaknesses and
Carragher - Salah is more Ronaldo than Messi, only he can
Manchester City swept back to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice in the champions' 3-1 win over Everton, while Christian Eriksen kept Tottenham in the title hunt in a last
Jesus shines as City regain top spot, Eriksen fires Spurs
FA Cup 2019: Manchester City set to face Watford in final at Wembley Stadium semifinal, Watford rallied for two goals down to beat Wolves 3-2 in extra time. After goals from Matt Doherty and
FA Cup semi final draw recap: Man City, Wolves, Brighton and
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' getty, Laurence Griffiths Jurgen Klopp said his Liverpool team could not have done anything more after they finished just one point behind defending champions Manchester City in their bid to win the Premier League title.
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race
Friends, family and supporters gathered in Progreso for the day-long wake at his boyhood club, San Martin de Progreso. More than 3,000 mourners came to pay their respects to the 28-year-old, whose
Latest EMILIANO SALA | The Straits Times
SINGAPORE - New Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to rouse local football from its slumber. "I see Singapore football as a sleeping giant," said
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides aims
Football: West Ham's Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs suffers first loss at new stadium Michail Antonio fired West Ham to a surprise 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Tottenham vs West Ham result, Premier League 2019 report
Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town - St James Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 23, 2019 Huddersfield Towns Jonathan Hogg in action with Newcastle Uniteds Jamaal Lascelles Action Images via Reuters/Lee
Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Welcoming New Employee Message It is always an exciting time to bring a new employee on board. From training to socially acclimating to a new environment, here are some great examples of welcoming new employee messages that will help you to bring out the great hospitality of your organization and fellow colleagues.
Photos: Seniors welcome 2019 with Happy Noon Year celebration
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch the champions league live stream
free watch soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live stream app
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch champions league live streaming now tv
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
soccer tv live net stream
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch usa soccer live stream
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming free
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league live streaming vf
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer games live stream free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch premier league darts live stream
watch soccer live stream links
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch english premier league live streaming
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming pc
free watch champions league live streaming
#oasisengland #lfc #freekick #Fcb #MyDubai #bayernmunich #oasisofficial #football #arsenal #rugby #battuteepiche #firmino #footballdubai #jadwalbolahariini #zinedinezidane #villarealcf #livesports #mane #GarageCafeDxb #MSport #england #realmadrid #risate #soccer #sunderlandafc #tokyo #goodday #footballfans #soccer #liverpool #premierleague #liverpoolfc #elcasico #championship #insegreto #pagani #Liverpool #chocolate #fut #alissonbecker #commento #winner #lovefootball #liverpool #hotcoffee #satira #streamingbolaid #hoffenhiem #Bar #freekickerz #sixtimes #soccerbible #visubal #manchesterunited #Celtic #romania #ignoranza #vandijk #champion #manchestercity #ucl #beatifulgame
No comments:
Post a Comment