MAURICIO POCHETTINO HAS described Tottenham’s passage to the last-16 of this season’s Champions League as the most “special” moment of his tenure at the club.
Lucas Moura’s late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the Camp Nou, a result which coupled with Inter and PSV’s stalemate was enough to secure passage from Group B.
Since arriving in north London in 2014, Pochettino had taken Tottenham to second in the Premier League, the FA Cup semi-finals in the last two campaigns and the Carabao Cup final.
But the Argentine concedes that the point away at the Catalan giants is the zenith of his spell in charge.
“To celebrate inside with everyone, after four-and-a-half years it was the first time you feel something really special,” he told the media.
“The connection was amazing and we need to be clever how we manage that energy now.”
Despite Barcelona being without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Tottenham had to show immense character to earn the draw having gone behind inside seven minutes virtue of Ousmane Dembele’s solo strike.
Christian Eriksen and Lucas both went close before the Brazil international struck from close range, after Harry Kane’s cross.
“The players were fantastic. A massive effort,” Pochettino told BT Sport. “I am so happy for the fans. A massive, massive achievement for the club.
“I am so happy. We suffered because when we finished the game we did not know the result at Inter.
“It was two very difficult minutes, but in the end of course we were so happy. It’s so important for the club.
“I always believed it was possible to win the game. We produced a lot of chances, but after we missed so many we thought maybe it was not our night.
“We fully deserved to go through with Barcelona. We were the best teams in a difficult group.”
Spurs are next in action on Saturday when they host Burnley at Wembley Stadium.
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I think it’s a great move. Ryan will bring a lot of positive PR with him and the Cork public in general have great time for him – the footballers in the county need this PR lift.
Also, maybe when they are being beaten by a team next year and they look to the sideline to see Eamon Ryan there, it might give them a bit more of a lift. Bottom line is he is an achiever and will be a huge addition to the Cork football dressing-room. Overall, a very strong backroom team in place now – it’s up to the players now to deliver.
With all respect to Ryan, I think this is a strange move. I’m not sure is it the progressive move Cork needed.
I don’t know our lads have been playing like a bunch of women for the last few years now so he’ll fit perfectly.
People being negative think Eamonn Ryan never coached before he took over Cork’s ladies team!