Spurs lost 2-1 to Liverpool on Tuesday evening but Pochettino praised his young stars including struggling striker Vincent Janssen.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted to the club’s official website he was disappointed to go out of the EFL Cup after losing 2-1 to Liverpool.
The Argentine picked a mix of fringe and young players for the difficult trip to Merseyside, but it was Daniel Sturridge who proved the big difference between the two sides scoring in each half to book The Reds’ place in the quarter final.
Vincent Janssen’s penalty proved only a consolation for the visitors as an inexperienced side with the likes of Harry Winks, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Joshua Onomah couldn’t deal with Liverpool’s lively attack, despite giving a good account of themselves on a difficult Tuesday night.
It means Spurs are now four games without a win in all competitions and with Premier League champions Leicester City, Champions League opponents Bayer Leverkusen and neighbours Arsenal next up, it’s a difficult period for Pochettino with those games determining how successful a season Tottenham could have.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
But he was pleased with the display at Anfield and says that it was important to rotate his squad and give everybody a chance for playing time.
“I’m very pleased with the performance. I’m disappointed with the result of course, but the effort from the team was them fantastic,” he told the Spurs website.
“We played against Liverpool, they’re a very good team and we fought and we competed until the end of the game and that is very important for us.
“Always the important thing is that we believe that we can come back. We created chances, it was a great experience and we can take positive things.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino with Tottenham’s Josh Onomah
“We are in a different process to Liverpool, a different project and we need to feel pleased for all the players – players that don’t play too much and are not regular choices in the Premier League or in the Champions League.
“The experience today was very important.”
Harry Winks, Joshua Onomah, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Shayon Harrison all benefited from first team minutes, but the likes of Tom Carroll and Kevin Wimmer struggled to make an impact against Liverpool and the livelihood of them starting for the first team again is very slim.
The much-troubled Janssen also started, completed 90 minutes and find himself on the scoresheet in what’s been a difficult spell for the Netherlands international since his arrival in English football.
But Pochettino remains pleased with the former AZ Alkmaar forward and urges patience for him to continue to adapt to life in England before the eventual rewards are reaped.
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen scores their first goal from the penalty spot
“I think he was fantastic. He played very well, he made a big effort and he scored,” he said. “We are very happy with him.
“We need to understand that he’s 22, he’s come in from the Netherlands, a different league, and always we need to give time.
“But one thing is clear, that he is a player who works a lot, who is always involved and the commitment he shows in every game and every training session is fantastic.”
Tottenham’s Vincent Janssen looks dejected
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