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Spurs' new home, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pochettino 'nearly crying' at Tottenham stadium opening

The Spurs boss feels chairman Daniel Levy deserves credit for pushing the project forward.

MAURICIO POCHETTINO REVEALED he was “nearly crying” due to the emotion of being present at the long-awaited opening of the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs were due to move into the redeveloped White Hart Lane in August but the project suffered repeated delays. 

However, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finally played host to its first test event on Sunday, an U18 fixture between Spurs and Southampton.

And an emotional Pochettino feels chairman Daniel Levy deserves credit for pushing the project forward.

“It’s unbelievable, it is so difficult to explain, only with a few words. We all feel the same. It’s so exciting,” Pochettino told Spurs TV on the pitch at half-time.

“I got the same feeling on the last day when we left White Hart Lane. We were crying and now the first day, here at the new stadium, the same emotion. We are nearly crying.

Our dream becomes true and first of all we have to say thank you to Daniel Levy, because in 2001 when he started to believe in that dream he made it possible for everyone to be here today and he deserves big applause – and all the board.”

Pochettino praised the patience of the club’s fans, who continued to travel to watch the team play at Wembley while the stadium works were completed.

And he feels the opening of the new venue could give Spurs the edge in next month’s Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.

“It’s going to be amazing and a massive impact for the team, for the players and the club to have the possibility to finish this season [at the stadium],” added Pochettino.

“In the Premier League we are in a good place and of course we have a massive challenge in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

But I think with all our fans, 62,000 people behind us it’s going to be fantastic to play and we can make possible our dream to play in the semi-finals.

“It’s our new house but we’re going to create a new home and that is different. White Hart Lane was magic but I feel that this new stadium is the best in the world.

“When it starts to feel like home it is going to be really unbelievable. I really believe that the future of the club is going to be fantastic.”

Tottenham Hotspur U18 v Southampton U18 - U18 Premier League - Test Event - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium A general view of the match action during the U18 Premier League test event match at Tottenham. Ian Walton Ian Walton

The honour of scoring the first goal at the stadium went to J’Neil Bennett, who cut in from the left wing before bending a fine finish into the bottom-right corner.

Harvey White doubled the Tottenham lead from the penalty spot before half-time and, after Kornelius Hansen pulled one back for Southampton, Dilan Markanday sealed a 3-1 victory on a historic day for Spurs.

Tottenham’s first Premier League game in their new home will be against Crystal Palace on 3 April.

Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne dissect Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign, and discuss the pros and cons of rugby’s new law proposals in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:


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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Mar 25th 2019, 2:07 PM

    Looks class!

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    Mute #JUSTICE4NOEL
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    Mar 25th 2019, 2:24 PM

    Sap

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    Mute Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby
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    Mar 25th 2019, 3:57 PM

    Looks an amazing stadium, can’t wait to visit. COYS

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    Mar 25th 2019, 2:17 PM

    Here was me thinking poch would’ve liked the micro brewery. Maybe he just don’t like hipsters! South stand looks pretty cool albeit nose bleedy up top!

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    Mute Virgil Van Rock
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    Mar 25th 2019, 3:49 PM

    Goodbye Harry, Dele, Son, Loris

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    Mute TheHospitalPass
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    Mar 25th 2019, 4:42 PM

    @Virgil Van Rock: great defending last night pal

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    Mute Virgil Van Rock
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    Mar 25th 2019, 5:09 PM

    @TheHospitalPass: Yes, hard doing alone but hey that’s me

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Mar 25th 2019, 6:31 PM

    @TheHospitalPass: Some crack a fella scores a worldy but because it was against a Liverpool player everyone harps on about how vvd could of done better.
    As a Liverpool fan you have to take it as a sure sign of player envy. Yeah he could of done better but I’d rather congratulate gnabry for a brilliant finish then get on the case of the centre half, Vvd is a brilliant player end of story .
    Your a sad sad little man

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    Mute Virgil Van Rock
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    Mar 25th 2019, 6:37 PM

    @Peter Govan: well said Peter !

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    Mute Declan g
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    Mar 25th 2019, 7:31 PM

    Great looking stadium , all that’s missing is a trophy cabinet

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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Mar 25th 2019, 10:22 PM

    So basically he didn’t cry?

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    Mute David A Roberts
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    Mar 25th 2019, 4:03 PM

    Is Poch a wimp or something? He must be bawling every night then at the fact that they threw away the league a few times already this year. Grow a pair!

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    Mute spodo kimono
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    Mar 25th 2019, 7:56 PM

    @David A Roberts: threw away the league??? They were never top of the table.

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    Mute David A Roberts
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    Mar 25th 2019, 10:40 PM

    @spodo kimono: that’s my point.. if they didn’t lose so many easy games they would have been

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    Mute Hugh Carolan
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    Mar 26th 2019, 1:16 PM

    @David A Roberts: if every team didn’t lose so many games they too would still be in contention. You’re not making any real point

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    Mute Billy Nomates
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    Mar 25th 2019, 10:43 PM

    When are they building the Bertie Bowl here?

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    Mute BC
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    Mar 26th 2019, 10:45 AM

    And with an empty trophy cabinet to bring there over the last decade or so too! Tears of failure!

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