Thu 31 January 2019, 01:16
Tottenham HotspurMauricio Pochettino spoke again about the team’s never-say-die attitude as we dug out another late win this time to topple Watford on Wednesday night.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, a dominant second half performance was finally rewarded when returning hero Heung-Min Son (80 minutes) and Fernando Llorente (87 minutes) found a way through.
The latest late, late show joins a mini-boxset of similar victories this season against the likes of PSV and Inter in the Champions League, Burnley, Fulham and now Watford in the Premier League.
After two cup defeats in four days – and a few results going our way in this midweek fixture list – you felt victory was imperative at Wembley, and we got there in the end again.
“Keep going, keep pushing, keep believing - that mentality is so important,” said Mauricio. “A big part of the game is about mentality and the team is showing that mentality.
“The first half was a little flat. We were in control of the game but we didn’t create too much. Then we showed our character in the second half.
“It’s a massive win, a massive victory in the way that we won the game in the second half, believing always. I think we fully deserved it. We worked a lot and the effort was fantastic.
“I’m so happy because we needed to start to feel a victory again and three points are so important to keep us in a very good position in the table.”
Indeed, the win means we stay third and move seven points clear of Chelsea (who lost at Bournemouth) and Arsenal, nine clear of Manchester United (who drew against Burnley) and looking up, move to within two points of second-placed Manchester City (who lost at Newcastle).
We took those valuable points thanks to striker Fernando, who missed a gilt-edged chance earlier in the second half before majestically heading home Danny Rose’s cross late on, a big, big moment.
“A striker needs to have the chances to score,” added Mauricio. “Of course, he had the miss but he kept working, kept pushing. He was fantastic and to score the second goal and provide us with the three points... he fully deserves big praise and I’m so happy for him.”
