Mauricio Pochettino hailed match-winner Danny Rose after Tottenham's 2-1 win over Swansea on Sunday and said the defender has proved his quality and worth to Spurs.
Rose scored a 76th-minute winner after Nacer Chadli had cancelled out Alberto Paloschi's first-half opener.
The victory moved Spurs to within two points of Premier League leaders Leicester City and three clear of rivals Arsenal, who they face at White Hart Lane in a week's time.
Rose is enjoying another brilliant season under Pochettino, but the 25-year-old's future was far from certain when the Argentine arrived at White Hart Lane in summer 2014, and made fellow left-back Ben Davies one of his first signings for Spurs.
"We arrived 21 months ago and the first meeting I have with a Tottenham player was with him," Pochettino told a news conference. "They were on holiday and I called him to come to my office. I was happy and pleased to give him the opportunity to stay here and work with us.
"It is true we are very happy with him showing quality and helping the team. It was maybe difficult from the beginning when we arrived but I am very happy for him. The crowd were singing his name.
"When any manager arrives at a new club always the player needs to know the idea. My idea was from the beginning to give him the chance to show he has enough quality to play for Tottenham."
Spurs had a season-high 34 shots against Swansea, with 14 on target, but found former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in inspired form for the visitors.
The Pole made a number of great saves but was finally beaten when substitute Chadli turned in Kyle Walker's fierce drive, before Rose's low effort from 17 yards squirmed under Fabianski.
"During the whole game we shot more than 30 times and maybe 15 or 16 on target," Pochettino added. "Maybe it was a record for the Premier League. Fabianski was fantastic and it looked like it would be impossible to score.
"For that you get upset, disappointed, frustrated a little bit but when we scored the second goal you feel freedom in this moment."
Dele Alli played 90 minutes for Spurs but the midfielder limped onto the team coach after the match, telling journalists he "kicked the ground in the warm-up" but was "alright."
Pochettino will hope the 19-year-old is ready to face West Ham United on Wednesday and Arsenal next weekend, and said some of his players were "a little tired."
"It's easier to prepare for the West Ham game after this victory," Pochettino added. "[The players] are happy, they smile, it is always a better mood to recover.
"It is an exciting moment for us but some players we need to manage because some players feel a little bit tired. We came from a very tough period."