Spurs were two up but went on to draw 2-2 and Tottenham cult hero Crouch thinks one particular recent game was in the players’ minds.
Peter Crouch has given his honest verdict on Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw with Olympiacos in last night’s Champions League Group B in Greece (BT Sport via Football London).
Spurs were two goals to the good heading into half time thanks to a Harry Kane penalty which was followed up by a sensational Lucas Moura strike four minutes later.
However, conceded shortly before the break through Portuguese winger Daniel Podence’s quality finish, before Mathieu Valbuena grabbed the equaliser from the penalty spot.
Having surrendered a two-goal lead against Arsenal only a few weeks ago, former Tottenham striker Crouch suggested that the North London derby result could have been playing on the Spurs players’ minds in the second half.
“I think the Arsenal game was in their heads, without a doubt once they went 2-0 up,” the retired England ace told BT Sport, as quoted by Football London. “The goal just before half-time, mentally it’s ‘here we go again’. I’ve been there and it’s difficult to get out of that mindset once you’re in it.”
“They were fortunate, Tottenham, to be two up, in my opinion. They didn’t start the game well and then obviously the goal just before half-time killed them, really. I was a bit worried for them in the second half. It looked like a dive at first but you don’t save this.”
Tottenham’s result means that both of last season’s Champions League finalists have failed to win their opening group games, holders Liverpool being beaten 2-0 by Napoli in Italy on Tuesday, while in the other group game, Bayern Munich beat Red Star Belgrade 3-0 in Germany.
Up next for Mauricio Pochettino’s charges is Saturday’s Premier League trip to Leicester City in the day’s early kickoff,
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