Future looks bright - Mauricio
Manager delighted with youngsters after beating AC Milan
Wed 01 August 2018, 06:40|
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino said the Club can feel proud of our younger players on and off the pitch after completing a successful USA Tour with a 1-0 win against AC Milan in Minneapolis.
Six players from our Academy started the third and final International Champions Cup (ICC) match of the Tour and relished the opportunity to take on the Serie A giants.
Three of the six - TJ Eyoma, George Marsh and Oliver Skipp - made their first starts at this level but were undaunted in the magnificent US Bank Stadium, home of the last Super Bowl in February. Luke Amos, Anthony Georgiou and Kyle Walker-Peters completed the Academy sextet in the starting 11.
The youngsters not only showed a great performance on the pitch, we feel very proud of how they behaved outside of the pitch too
In the end, GK Nkoudou’s fine strike just 75 seconds into the second half was enough for victory and meant we were unbeaten after 90 minutes against AS Roma (4-1), Barcelona (2-2, lost on penalties) and Milan.
“I am happy with the performance more than the result,” said Mauricio.
“To compete against a very good side, just like Barcelona and Roma, and to gain that experience for a lot of youngsters in fantastic.
“I want to congratulate all the Academy coaches, staff and of course, John McDermott (Head of Coaching & Player Development) and Dean (Rastrick, Academy Manager) because they need to feel very proud about the youngsters, they behaved really well, performed fantastic.
Thank you, Minneapolis! 👏🙌#SpursInUSA 🇺🇸 #ICC2018 pic.twitter.com/94jqEK6aDd
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 1, 2018
“I think they showed a bright future in our Academy and they showed that the job that they are doing in the last 10, 12, 15 years, the coaches in the Academy, is great.
“I want to congratulate them because the youngsters not only showed a great performance on the pitch, we feel very proud of how they behaved outside of the pitch too.
“It’s good to feel proud. They feel the club and now they need to keep working.”
