MAURICIO POCHETTINO INSISTS his Tottenham players should be considered “heroes” despite Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool extending their winless run in the Premier League to five matches.
Lucas Moura looked to have earned a point at Anfield after cancelling out Roberto Firmino’s opener, only for Toby Alderweireld to score a 90th-minute own goal after Hugo Lloris palmed a Mohamed Salah header off his team-mate and over the line.
The result lifts Liverpool two points clear at the top of the table, having played a game more than Manchester City, while Spurs stay third and above Manchester United on goal difference alone.
Arsenal will go above their neighbours if they beat Newcastle United on Monday, while Chelsea are just one point further back, leaving Spurs’ top-four hopes very much in the balance following a return of one point from the last 15 available.
Pochettino, though, thinks Spurs deserve huge credit for challenging for the top spots during a season in which they have signed no players and had to cope with extended delays to their new stadium, where they will finally play their first match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
10 – @LFC vs @SpursOfficial is the first Premier League fixture to see 10 own goals scored (6 by Liverpool, 4 by Spurs). D’oh. #LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/GMzHiB2S3q
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
“Overall, I think we were better than Liverpool,” he said. ”I’m very disappointed. It’s difficult to explain but at the same time I am proud of the performance. I am proud about recovering that feeling that we lost against Southampton and Burnley.
“We were saying in the dressing room: we are in the top four, the [quarter-finals] of the Champions League. We need to forget everything and focus on a ‘mini-league’. It starts Wednesday, in our new stadium. It’s in our hands to be in the top four.
“With seven games to play in the Premier League, fighting in that position with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, being there in the middle… the players deserve massive credit.
“I was so disappointed after Southampton, but today I cannot say anything. The second half was the way we want to play. We deserved a little bit more but, playing in that way, for sure you are going to be rewarded.
We were laughing a little bit – more than £100million on two midfielders, [Naby] Keita and Fabinho, on the bench, and you go and play better, and you dominate. I think our players deserve massive credit.
“I don’t want to criticise [Liverpool]. It’s only that the circumstances of Tottenham this season must be, when someone wants to give an opinion, you need to put the circumstances in and not only judge Tottenham because of the position of the table.
“After playing nearly two years at Wembley, moving from one stadium and then to another, my players are heroes and deserve a lot of credit. The circumstances are so tough, and we are dealing [with them] and we are fighting to be competitive.”
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R.I.P.
@Mícheál Moran: awful news, heart goes out to his family
Tragic news. Thoughts are with his family. May he rest in peace.
That’s so sad
I just felt ridiculously sad reading that.. 41 year old former athlete. Cancer is so horrible, we all must know someone touched by it.
Terrible news. Why does life have to be so cruel to those so young. May he rest in peace
R. I. P.
Condolences to family & friends.
Very sad news. God love his family. No doubt he fought this like he played football… he gave it everything.
Very disrespectful to call him ‘O’Connor’ instead of his first name. Shame on you at the Journal
@Carol Cunningham: actually change my post to ‘Shame on you Fintan O’Brien’
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@Carol Cunningham: I don’t think any disrespect was meant. Usually sports stars are referred to by their surname.
@Carol Cunningham: calm down
@Carol Cunningham: Christ, you have a lot to be complaining about. Maybe just leave your sympathies to this man’s family and be done with it. A journalist calling him by his surname as would be done when he was a player is hardly disrespectful to the man. The piece is well written and strikes the right tone.
Clearly a good man in every field of life. Condolences to his wife and young children, it’s always heart breaking to see someone so young and strong taken from all that knew and loved him. He was a fine player RIP
May he rest in peace
Terrible parallels with the 1990 team. RIP Kieran. So sad this evening
RIP.
Rip kieran.all Ireland winner.
Jesus that’s terrible news. Saw him a good few times playing with cork & he was a tough competitor. Condolences to his family & friends at this tough time RIP
Rip Kieran. A gentleman.
Condolences to Kierans family and friends. So sad to see someone so young taken from us. Rip
RIP.
Terrible news. RIP.
A tragically young age. RIP
So sad.
Great player from a great club.
Condolences to his family.
R.I.P.
Terrible news.rip keiran..
Mo chomhbhrón
God bless good sir
Very sad News,fought hard tough battle with bravery & Grace,my condolences to the family & close friends!
RIP
Rest in peace .
God rest his soul and give his family strength at this difficult time rip.
Can I just say how much of a class act Davy Russell is.
Great ambassador for Cork Football and so sad for his family & community. Condolences.
R.I.P