Mauricio Pochettino is fully confident that the move to the new stadium will see Tottenham Hotspur again finish in the Champions League places, after they opened the ground with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
That result also represented a crucial first victory in six matches, that saw Spurs anchor their place in the top four. Four of the club’s remaining six games of the season are now at their new stadium – with the first few games having been played away because of the expectation they would already have moved in – and the belief that they have settled right in has only bolstered Pochettino’s assurance.
The feeling is they are now over their recent wobble.
“I am confident we are going to finish in the top four,” Pochettino said. “No doubt I believe in my players and trust in them. This group of players and staff and everyone in the club deserves to be in the Champions League next season. We worked so hard to try to deliver that moment and we are here now. It’s true, a lot of work to do, competing with big clubs who invest a lot of money, with different tools but we have the belief and we have our new home and our fans were amazing.”
Asked whether they could get maximum points from those four games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after winning the first, Pochettino said: “We will try, that’s always the objective, to win. But this is sport, maybe you can lose.
“The idea was to move to the new stadium and be in Champions League in the second year and we are ahead because next week we play in the new stadium.”
1/22 Hugo Lloris 6
It was not even tested whether he has recovered from his Anfield mishap until the very end, when he made a sharp save with his legs to deny Zaha. Apart from that his kicking and handling looked confident enough.
REUTERS
2/22 Kieran Trippier 7
Pushed up and down the right wing all game, dominating his side even though he started as a full-back. The delivery was not as good as it can be but this was still an improvement on recent weeks.
(Credit too long, see caption)
3/22 Toby Alderweireld 7
Did not have too much defending to do but looked dangerous with the ball, hitting one diagonal to Rose reminiscent of Spurs’ attacking play at the old White Hart Lane stadium.
(Credit too long, see caption)
4/22 Jan Vertonghen 6
Unruffled as ever in his new home, he nearly scored a late third goal with a clever header but was denied.
Action Images via Reuters
5/22 Ben Davies 6
Given the protection of Rose in front of him as Spurs tried to shut down the Zaha/Wan Bissaka combination, Davies was untroubled at the back. Made one crucial stretching tackle on the edge of the box.
AP
6/22 Danny Rose 7
Given a new role out on the left wing, he brought his usual energy and determination, getting into good positions and delivering well. Was given a standing ovation when he came off in the second half.
Getty Images
7/22 Moussa Sissoko 7
Did not let his infamous Anfield error get to him, playing with his usual enthusiasm. He won some important defensive tackles in front of his own box and nearly laid on a good chance for Kane in the second half.
(Credit too long, see caption)
8/22 Christian Eriksen 8
Has struggled recently but he was much better tonight, wanting the ball more, showing for it and getting into dangerous positions. He won it and set up Son for the first ever assist here, before smacking in a goal from close range to seal the win.
Action Images via Reuters
9/22 Dele Alli 6
Deeper than usual, he did not have much defensive work to do because Palace were so cautious. He took up more attacking positions as the game went on and played one clever ball through to Kane.
PA
10/22 Heung-Min Son 8
Will go down in history with his historic goal here, a reward for his hard work on the edge of the box, firing off a shot that was deflected into the net. Kept buzzing around all night, never giving Palace a second’s rest.
PA
11/22 Harry Kane 7
Looked absolutely desperate to score here and he came close but it never quite fell for him. Still, it was his run down the inside-left channel that set up Eriksen’s goal.
Action Images via Reuters
12/22 Vicente Guaita 4
Blameless for the goal given the deflection but lost his focus for the second. Never looked fully confident in his handling all night.
(Credit too long, see caption)
13/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5
Not the Wan Bissaka we are used to seeing, he had two Spurs opposite numbers to deal with and that restricted his opportunities for attacking down the right.
Action Images via Reuters
14/22 James Tomkins 6
Was playing well keeping Spurs at bay but was slow to react when Kane was brought down by McArthur and no-one was on hand to stop Eriksen from scoring.
Action Images via Reuters
15/22 Martin Kelly 6
Quietly impressing during his spell in the team with Sakho injured, he did everything right here and was unlucky to be on the losing side.
Action Images via Reuters
16/22 Patrick Van Aanholt 5
Struggled to make much an impression going forward in the first half, pinned back by Kieran Trippier’s advances down the right. Only pushed on in the second half when Palace were already behind.
(Credit too long, see caption)
17/22 Cheikhou Kouyate 5
Provided more physicality for the Palace midfield but struggled to influence the game with the ball. Was taken off for Andros Townsend as Palace pushed to get back into the game in the second half.
REUTERS
18/22 Luka Milivojevic 5
A frustrating evening climaxed when he lost the ball to Eriksen, chased hard to win it back and deflected Son’s shot past Guaita and into the goal.
(Credit too long, see caption)
19/22 James McArthur 6
Fortunate not to give away the first ever penalty at the new stadium when he brought down Kane late on, only for the referee to wave play on and Eriksen to score seconds later. Should have had a late assist for Benteke with a clever cross.
Action Images via Reuters
20/22 Wilfried Zaha 5
Even he struggled to make an impact, and as the game wore on he looked increasingly distracted by petty battles with his opponents. Only came into the game in the last 10 minutes, when it was already too late, forcing Lloris to save with his legs.
(Credit too long, see caption)
21/22 Michy Batshuayi 4
Cut an isolated figure up front, barely getting in the game at all. Whistled one shot wide from 20 yards but that was as good as it got all night.
REUTERS
22/22 Jeffrey Schlupp 5
Had a quiet game tucked into the left of Palace’s midfield four, finding far fewer opportunities to counter attack against a well-drilled Spurs side than he usually does
REUTERS
1/22 Hugo Lloris 6
It was not even tested whether he has recovered from his Anfield mishap until the very end, when he made a sharp save with his legs to deny Zaha. Apart from that his kicking and handling looked confident enough.
REUTERS
2/22 Kieran Trippier 7
Pushed up and down the right wing all game, dominating his side even though he started as a full-back. The delivery was not as good as it can be but this was still an improvement on recent weeks.
(Credit too long, see caption)
3/22 Toby Alderweireld 7
Did not have too much defending to do but looked dangerous with the ball, hitting one diagonal to Rose reminiscent of Spurs’ attacking play at the old White Hart Lane stadium.
(Credit too long, see caption)
4/22 Jan Vertonghen 6
Unruffled as ever in his new home, he nearly scored a late third goal with a clever header but was denied.
Action Images via Reuters
5/22 Ben Davies 6
Given the protection of Rose in front of him as Spurs tried to shut down the Zaha/Wan Bissaka combination, Davies was untroubled at the back. Made one crucial stretching tackle on the edge of the box.
AP
6/22 Danny Rose 7
Given a new role out on the left wing, he brought his usual energy and determination, getting into good positions and delivering well. Was given a standing ovation when he came off in the second half.
Getty Images
7/22 Moussa Sissoko 7
Did not let his infamous Anfield error get to him, playing with his usual enthusiasm. He won some important defensive tackles in front of his own box and nearly laid on a good chance for Kane in the second half.
(Credit too long, see caption)
8/22 Christian Eriksen 8
Has struggled recently but he was much better tonight, wanting the ball more, showing for it and getting into dangerous positions. He won it and set up Son for the first ever assist here, before smacking in a goal from close range to seal the win.
Action Images via Reuters
9/22 Dele Alli 6
Deeper than usual, he did not have much defensive work to do because Palace were so cautious. He took up more attacking positions as the game went on and played one clever ball through to Kane.
PA
10/22 Heung-Min Son 8
Will go down in history with his historic goal here, a reward for his hard work on the edge of the box, firing off a shot that was deflected into the net. Kept buzzing around all night, never giving Palace a second’s rest.
PA
11/22 Harry Kane 7
Looked absolutely desperate to score here and he came close but it never quite fell for him. Still, it was his run down the inside-left channel that set up Eriksen’s goal.
Action Images via Reuters
12/22 Vicente Guaita 4
Blameless for the goal given the deflection but lost his focus for the second. Never looked fully confident in his handling all night.
(Credit too long, see caption)
13/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5
Not the Wan Bissaka we are used to seeing, he had two Spurs opposite numbers to deal with and that restricted his opportunities for attacking down the right.
Action Images via Reuters
14/22 James Tomkins 6
Was playing well keeping Spurs at bay but was slow to react when Kane was brought down by McArthur and no-one was on hand to stop Eriksen from scoring.
Action Images via Reuters
15/22 Martin Kelly 6
Quietly impressing during his spell in the team with Sakho injured, he did everything right here and was unlucky to be on the losing side.
Action Images via Reuters
16/22 Patrick Van Aanholt 5
Struggled to make much an impression going forward in the first half, pinned back by Kieran Trippier’s advances down the right. Only pushed on in the second half when Palace were already behind.
(Credit too long, see caption)
17/22 Cheikhou Kouyate 5
Provided more physicality for the Palace midfield but struggled to influence the game with the ball. Was taken off for Andros Townsend as Palace pushed to get back into the game in the second half.
REUTERS
18/22 Luka Milivojevic 5
A frustrating evening climaxed when he lost the ball to Eriksen, chased hard to win it back and deflected Son’s shot past Guaita and into the goal.
(Credit too long, see caption)
19/22 James McArthur 6
Fortunate not to give away the first ever penalty at the new stadium when he brought down Kane late on, only for the referee to wave play on and Eriksen to score seconds later. Should have had a late assist for Benteke with a clever cross.
Action Images via Reuters
20/22 Wilfried Zaha 5
Even he struggled to make an impact, and as the game wore on he looked increasingly distracted by petty battles with his opponents. Only came into the game in the last 10 minutes, when it was already too late, forcing Lloris to save with his legs.
(Credit too long, see caption)
21/22 Michy Batshuayi 4
Cut an isolated figure up front, barely getting in the game at all. Whistled one shot wide from 20 yards but that was as good as it got all night.
REUTERS
22/22 Jeffrey Schlupp 5
Had a quiet game tucked into the left of Palace’s midfield four, finding far fewer opportunities to counter attack against a well-drilled Spurs side than he usually does
REUTERS
