LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has reminded his Tottenham players that Sunday's "final" against Crystal Palace is as big as their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Wednesday's 3-1 win over the European champions was one of the best nights in Tottenham's recent history, but the last five teams to beat Madrid in the Champions League have all dropped points in their next league game.
Spurs are eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City, who Pochettino described as "the best team in Europe." Pep Guardiola's side host fifth-place Arsenal on Sunday, while Manchester United visit Chelsea.
Pochettino is wary of complacency after the win against Madrid and knows Spurs cannot lose more ground in the title race when they take on bottom-placed Palace after a 1-0 reverse at United last weekend.
"Of course, the game is massive for us," Pochettino said. "When we finished the game against Real Madrid, we were sitting with coaching staff in the manager's room. We knew it was a fantastic victory but we started planning the next game and not only the next game but the game against Arsenal [on Nov. 18].
"For us, it's so important to reduce the gap. The game against Manchester United was very painful -- to lose the way we lost. Now, after that victory against Real Madrid, it's [important] to be focused on the game against Crystal Palace. It has the same value as the Real Madrid game, the game against Crystal Palace.
"We must be focused, we must use the result to lift us and build confidence. But understand we must work hard to get another good result on Sunday. It's always difficult to play Wednesday to Sunday. The effort was massive [against Madrid].
"We must be ready for a very tough game, Crystal Palace have a very good team. It's true the challenge now is to be focused, a massive opportunity to forget the Real Madrid game. Crystal Palace is another final for us. After defeat against Man United, it's so important to win again in the Premier League."
Pochettino added of City: "Of course, they are doing very well. In the Premier League and Champions League they're showing unbelievable performances. They're the most in-form team in Europe today. But it's a long way. The challenge is to keep their form and maintain it for the whole season. They're showing great quality and they're the best team in Europe today."
Dele Alli was Spurs' hero against Madrid, scoring twice and starting the move leading to Christian Eriksen's goal.
Alli played as a No. 10 but scored from a deeper midfield role against both Liverpool and West Ham, and Pochettino says he does not want to tie Alli to one position.
"He's an offensive midfielder, of course," he said. "Sometimes he's more in the box than a striker but he can drop his position and play as a defensive midfielder with two or three other midfielders. He can play in different positions.
"He can start on the left or go to the right. He's not a centre-back, a full-back, or a goalkeeper but he can play different positions. It's great to have players like him who can develop his game in different positions on the pitch."
Harry Winks also had another standout performance against Madrid and Pochettino says the sky is the limit for the 21-year-old if he keeps improving.
"It's up to him now to keep his feet on the grass, his mentality to try to be better is so important," he said. "We try to translate here that in football it is never enough. Even at 40, like [Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi] Buffon, it's never enough.
"Try to be better. If we're able to keep that mentality, anything is possible. For now, it's about keeping his feet on the grass. OK, he's reached that level but try to be better. His characteristics and potential is massive. For the under-23s or against Real Madrid, it's so important to keep that in his career."
Pochettino said Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and Hugo Lloris (groin) will have scans on Friday but neither are fit for Palace, while Erik Lamela (hip) is still not ready to return. Victor Wanyama (knee) has returned to individual training but Pochettino refused to set a return date for the midfielder.