Spurs 3-0 Borussia Dortmund - Mauricio's verdict
Thu 14 February 2019, 02:03|
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino described the team as ‘amazing’ after securing surely one of our best European results to topple Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Wembley on Wednesday night.
After an even first half, we produced a sublime second half show to take a healthy advantage to Germany for the second leg on Tuesday 5 March.
Heung-Min Son’s strike from Jan Vertonghen’s cross just two minutes into the second half gave the players the confidence to take control of the first leg. It was Sonny's ninth goal in 11 games against Dortmund - including four for us.
Provider turned goalscorer as Jan buried Serge Aurier’s cross for 2-0 on 83 minutes and we were in dreamland three minutes later when substitute Fernando Llorente glanced home Christian Eriksen’s corner for 3-0.
Top of the Bundesliga with just one defeat in 21 games, this was only BVB’s third loss in 90 minutes in all competitions this season - the first at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stage, the second against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the league. That’s probably the best barometer of our performance.
The whole team was amazing. We need to feel proud about the performance but at the same time, calm, because there is still a lot of work to do
Mauricio said: “I’m so happy but it’s only the first leg and we need to finish the job. It was an amazing result and the players deserve massive praise but we need to think that it’s going to be tough to play over there.
“The first half was tough, it was an even game but after Sonny scored the team started to feel more free, more confident and started to play in a very good way.
“In that moment I think we started to feel comfortable too on the bench because we started to play really well. We didn’t concede too many chances and against a very good side... that’s why we need to feel proud.”
Asked to sum up the night, Mauricio added: “The whole team was amazing. We need to feel proud about the performance, so happy but at the same time, calm, because there is still a lot of work to do.
“We need to go out there knowing it’s going to be so tough and we need to perform like we performed today, in our best way and try to think that we need to win the next game if we want to be in the next stage of the Champions League.”
