Palace 0-1 Spurs - Mauricio's verdict

Seven games, 21 days, five wins, one draw and a narrow loss against City – no wonder Mauricio Pochettino was a proud manager after the players dug deep to topple Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday night.

Always one of the toughest trips on the calendar, this was the final test of a busy spell where the team has played must-win games, cup ties, derbies, twice in three days and fought through injuries to just about come through unscathed.

Torrential rain only added to the occasion and it was an unlikely hero – Juan Foyth – who headed home the winner on 66 minutes for the seventh win in eight on our travels in the Premier League this season.

Foyth gave away two penalties on his Premier League debut last week, a 3-2 win at Wolves, and is the match-winner seven days later. As Mauricio would say, ‘that’s football’.

“The character and the personality of the team is fantastic,” said the manager. “Today, playing in a difficult period because in 13 days we’ve played five games, to come here and show that personality is fantastic, that pleased me most.

“Football… it’s always about suffering. Hugo was fantastic and I’m so pleased with the performance of the whole team. That is the way to be, fighting, with the hope that we’re fighting for big things at the end.”

Once again, injuries struck. This time we lost Kieran Trippier on 24 minutes but Serge Aurier was an able deputy as we kept the clean sheet to win the game.

Mauricio added: “The squad is most important, the belief, the players. The most important thing is to keep all the players fit to be competitive. That is what pleases me the most. I congratulate them all because the effort has been massive and all the staff have done a fantastic job. I want to congratulate them all. I’m so pleased, so happy.”