Tottenham batted back to win a point against Arsenal on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur full back Danny Rose has told The Mirror that Mauricio Pochettino’s half time team-talk against Arsenal was more like a ‘war cry’.
Spurs had already lost to a London rival just days earlier, having been beaten 2-0 at Chelsea on Wednesday night, and it looked like they may lose again.
Aaron Ramsey broke clear to round Hugo Lloris and put Arsenal in front, capitalising on a lacklustre first half performance from Pochettino’s side.
Spurs did improve after the break, and got back into the game with a Harry Kane penalty, after the England striker had been barged over by Shkodran Mustafi.
There was late drama to come though as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won a last-gasp penalty but saw it saved by Lloris before Jan Vertonghen managed to prevent Aubameyang scoring when the ball came back in.
Spurs have taken just one point from their last three games and don’t appear to be firing on all cylinders right now, with fans, staff and players no doubt relieved to have avoided a third straight defeat.
Now, left back Rose – who ended the game in midfield – has suggested that Pochettino’s half time team-talk was more like a war cry, adding that it was one of the best things he’s ever witnessed in football.
Rose claims that Pochettino is usually calm and collected when talking to his side, but this time was different, and Rose admitted that his words got him firing and wanting to fight for Pochettino in the second half.
“The manager said some things at half-time and that was the turning point, because he’s usually really calm and collected. He normally talks to us at half-time. This time it was like he was really sending us to war,” said Rose. “That was one of the best things I’ve witnessed in football, his half-time team-talk. It’s one of the best team-talks I’ve been involved in since I’ve been playing football.”
“He normally talks, he’s really calm — as you’ve all seen, he’s calm on the sidelines… apart from after Burnley! — but this time he was really passionate. I felt as if I was going into war after the team-talk that he gave. We’re not used to losing two games in a row. Something needs to change somewhere. I think he just tried a different approach. But I liked what he did at half-time, it really got me firing. As usual, it made me want to fight for him, fight for my team-mates and fight for my club. I love seeing things like that,” he added.
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