Thu 11 February 2021, 01:14
Tottenham HotspurJose Mourinho said the players ‘gave everything’ as we came down on the wrong side of a nine-goal FA Cup classic at Everton on Wednesday evening.
We had an attacking zip about our play from the off at Goodison and deserved to take an early lead when Davinson Sanchez headed home Heung-Min Son’s corner after three minutes. Robin Olsen also saved twice from Sonny, twice from Erik Lamela and once from Steven Bergwijn in the first half-hour.
We looked in control but the fifth-round tie was turned on its head as Everton scored three goals in seven minutes to lead 3-1. Stunned by that, we came back fighting as Lamela reduced arrears in added time and Davinson struck again to level at 3-3 on 57 minutes.
Harry Kane was introduced, Everton lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin to injury and at 3-3, the tide looked to have turned in our favour. Yet it was Everton who struck next for 4-3, before Harry’s diving header from Sonny’s cross took us into extra time. Bernard edged Everton ahead again seven minutes into extra time, and there was no coming back this time.
Jose said: “We take the positives, and the positives were a fantastic effort by the players, fantastic attacking football from the first minute, immediately a great combination and header from Lamela and a save from Olsen. It was like that for the whole game.
“When we had the ball, we were really good, we were dominant, we were in control. We were the best team in my opinion. We were very good, and that hurts more. The players gave everything.
“After half-hour, it’s (should be) two-zero, three-zero, game over. Certainly, in five minutes, we were 3-1 down. But even so, an incredible reaction.
“We were trying to find the strength, desire and quality to get back into the game again. I always thought we were going to win it. So, yes, heart-breaking, but I go with the positives and the positive was again the big heart by the players.”
