LONDON (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino said Tottenham played with their hearts rather than their heads as they blew a chance to put pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a shock 3-1 home defeat to Wolves on Saturday (Dec 29).
A run of five straight league victories combined with a mini-collapse from Manchester City had left Spurs in second place in the table, six points behind Liverpool going into the weekend matches.
But Tottenham - who had scored 11 goals in their previous two festive fixtures - will be bitterly disappointed they did not make it six wins out of six after Harry Kane put them in front during a first half they dominated.
The second half was a different story as Spurs became increasingly ragged and the visitors were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude with goals from Willy Boly, Raul Jimenez and substitute Helder Costa.
"I think the game was under control in the first half," said Pochettino.
"Maybe it was easier than we expected in the first half to dominate the game and to play so easy. They played so deep, chasing us. We didn't concede one chance.
"But in the second half I think we started to feel maybe the game was over and when you start to feel the game is over it's tough to play in the way you play.
Â
"You start to decide in the wrong way, you start to play too many long balls and to play more with your heart than your head. We started to spend a lot of energy.
"It's not enough to play 60, 70 minutes," he added. "You need to play your best for 95 minutes. Like today we dropped energy and focus and in the last 20 minutes we conceded three goals.
SPURS EXERT CONTROL
The first few minutes of the match were scrappy as both teams looked for rhythm but Spurs gradually exerted control, Christian Eriksen and the returning Dele Alli probing for openings around the edge of the box.
Spurs were rewarded for their dominance midway through the first half when the in-form Son Heung-min fed Kane, who marauded forward down the right.
Just before he reached the edge of the Wolves box he checked back onto his left foot and hit an unstoppable shot into the far corner past the despairing Rui Patricio.
But despite their clear superiority, Tottenham were unable to earn vital breathing space and the game remained on a knife-edge as the second half got under way.
The dangerous Adama Traore was substituted by Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo with just over half an hour to go but the visitors were seeing more of the ball and the Spurs fans became increasingly edgy as the game wore on.
Wolves, urged on by a sizeable travelling support, disrupted Tottenham's smooth passing game, denying their creative players time on the ball and they pulled level in the 72nd minute when Boly rose powerfully to head home a corner from substitute Joao Moutinho.
Spurs huffed and puffed but could not recapture their rhythm and Kane was booked for diving but it was Wolves who scored again when Jimenez rolled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute.
They killed the game the game four minutes later after Spurs were caught in possession and Costa was put through and converted easily.
Nuno, whose side climbed to seventh in the table, said he was proud of the character his team showed, first to stay in the match and then to take the game to their illustrious opponents in the second half.
"I think what we had today was two different halves," he said. "In the first half Tottenham had possession of the ball and controlled the game.
"It was important for us to stay in the game... In the second half, we tried to go for the game and play. It was a very good performance."
Guardiola Dismisses Klopp's 'No Weaknesses' Claim About City that his Manchester City side are showing "no sign of weakness" in the Premier League title race. Stadium on January 3 and
Soccer Football - FA Cup Fifth Round - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - February 18, 2019 Manchester United's Ander Herrera scores their first goal Action Images via
Soccer: United dump holders Chelsea out of Cup to pile
Football: Aston Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West Brom Aston Villa's Jack Grealish (left) and John McGinn celebrate after winning the penalty shootout against West Bromwich on
Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West Brom
Many people think that heel spurs cause heel pain—but that's not always the case. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one out of 10 people have heel spurs, but only one out of 20 people with a heel spur experiences heel pain. Others may experience symptoms that include tenderness, a dull ache, or sharp pain when standing.
Pochettino: Spurs need to believe - The Irish News
LAUSANNE: AC Milan risk being excluded from European competition next season after UEFA on Thursday ordered another probe be carried out into the Italian club for breaches of Financial Fair Play
Milan risk European ban as UEFA orders another FFP probe
Lions' new coach Tatsuma Yoshida wants more intensity, confidence Technique is second but, first, I want the players to want the ball. "I want them asking for the ball and not being scared
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/football-my-players-must-want-the-ball-says-new-lions-coach-tatsuma-yoshida/
If we want to be a ball-playing team, we need to have confidence first, the players must want the ball." During the informal game, he was seen pulling winger Gabriel Quak aside to give more instructions. After training, Yoshida was also giving forward Adam Swandi pointers.
Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida unfazed by criticism, Latest
Coimbatore: Chennai City's I-League-winning coach Akbar Nawas Saturday called for a unified league with 20 teams, saying it would "benefit" the national team.Uncertainty looms over I-League's future with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mulling bringing the league's top teams into the ISL fold.
Coaches Evening with Akbar Nawas - Athletes and Coaches
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 07, 2019, with the headline ''Expired' Molde deal to ease way for Solskjaer'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
'Expired' Molde deal to ease way for Solskjaer - theworldnews.net
regulations help implement the General Plan of the City of Phoenix, which are the goals, policies and recommendations of how development in the city (long-term) is to be achieved. The City of Phoenix has numerous zoning classifications and each one has a list of permitted uses and standards for building setbacks, densities, etc.
Building_Inspection_Faqs - dallascityhall.com
Atletico Madrid left it late to see off Girona 2-0 at home on Tuesday as strikes from Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann kept up their faint hopes of catching La Liga leaders Barcelona, trimming
Late Godin and Griezmann goals keep Atletico in title chase
SINGAPORE - An employee of Singapore Premier League club Hougang United has been charged over the loss of more than $250,000 from their clubhouse operations. While working as an admin assistant, Malaysian Tean Tai Tee allegedly misappropriated $278,200. The 24-year-old woman was arrested and charged in court on Dec 16, 2018 with one count of
S$278,200 missing from Hougang United Football Club; employee
Barcelona - Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele returned to team training on Thursday, increasing hopes that he will recover from his hamstring injury in time for next week's Champions League trip to Manchester United. "Jasper Cillessen (also out injured) and Ousmane Dembele were back training with the group," the La Liga leaders said on their
Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona returns from injury ahead of Man
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen