Tottenham coach Pochettino after Ajax comeback: “My players are heroes”
The Tottenham Hotspur coach spoke to the cameras after his side produced a stunning comeback to win their Champions League semi-final tie on away goals.
Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke to the cameras after his side produced a thrilling second-half display, capped by three goals from Lucas Moura, to turn the Champions League semi-final against Ajax around (3-3 on aggregate with Spurs through on away goals) and book their place in the final in Madrid on 1 June.
Pochettino emotional after Spurs comeback
Pochettino said: “Still difficult to talk. The emotion is amazing, thank you to football. My players are heroes - in the last year I was telling everyone this group are heroes. In the second half they were amazing. Thank you football - this type of emotion without football is no possible. Thank you to everyone who believed in us. To describe this in words is difficult.
We were talking before the game that when you work and when you feel the love it's not stress it's passion of the team. We showed we love the sport and football. Today was amazing. It was a joy to watch this kind of game. It's difficult to compete at this level. I am so grateful to be a coach. To be in football and to live this type of football."
"Moura was a superhero"
Pochettino ended the interview in tears as the emotion got to him: "They are all heroes but [Moura] was a superhero. From the first to last one - the tough moment to live in the five years before. I want to remember my family... it's amazing to reward them. We need to be ready for the next game on Sunday then prepare for the final."