Football
PA Sport 9y

Mauricio Pochettino praises Spurs' fantastic night after Newcastle win

Tottenham put in one of the best performances of Mauricio Pochettino's reign securing a semi-final place in the Capital One Cup after a convincing win vs. Newcastle.

The former Argentina defender's start to life in north London has not been without  teething problems, but things appear to now be moving in the right direction.

Spurs have taken 10 points from a possible 15 in their last five Premier League Games and will face Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semifinals thanks to the 4-0 win over Alan Pardew's club.

Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado all scored for Spurs.

"It was fantastic," Spurs head coach Pochettino said. "It was a fantastic night, a very good performance from the team.

"I am very happy because I think tonight was the first time that there was the relation between the team and supporters.

"It was brilliant at White Hart Lane and I enjoyed it a lot tonight."

Asked if this was the best Spurs display since he took charge in the summer, Pochettino said: "I don't know but maybe. Maybe.

"I think some games we played very well but this result was important for us.

"It was home, it is in front of our supporters and we go to the semifinals of the Capital One Cup.

"We know Tottenham have a lot of tradition in the cups and I think this victory is very important for us."

This felt like a turning point for Spurs, having struggled at home this campaign -- a welcome boost ahead of Burnley's arrival on Saturday.

That match, and the hectic Premier League calendar, is Pochettino's only focus now, given the Europa League and Capital One Cup does not restart until the new year.

A clash against Fiorentina awaits at the last-32 juncture in Europe, although the draw has been kinder domestically having been pitted Spurs against Sheffield United.

The Blades are fifth in League One but Pochettino will not be taking them lightly, especially having seen his former club Southampton become the fourth Premier League team this year to go out of cup competitions to them.

"I think that we need to have full respect for Sheffield United," Pochettino said. "It is a team from League One but they deserved to stay on to the semifinal.

"But we need now to stop and be focused on the Premier League. Saturday is a very important game for us and after, when we arrive in January, we will focus on this game.

"We fully respect them and in football you never know. We need to be careful, be ready and always alive in every game. It is not an easy game."

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