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Pochettino moves focus to Ajax after West Ham defeat

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with the effort of his team despite los...



Pochettino moves focus to Ajax...
Soccer

Pochettino moves focus to Ajax after West Ham defeat

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with the effort of his team despite losing 1-0 to West Ham on Saturday.

A breakaway goal in the second half from Michail Antonio was enough to grab all three points for the visitors as Spurs struggled to hit their usual tempo at their new stadium.

"I think the first half was good. I think we played well and created a lot of chances - I'm a little bit ashamed that we didn't score," the Spurs manager told Off The Ball's Adam Lyndsay.

"In the second half - I think they were better. I think we didn't manage properly the ball, a lot of mistakes in the build up and we provide them the counter-attack and the transition and the space to run. With players like Arnautovic and Michail Antonio, they have the capacity to run if you give them that facility. Maybe you can't concede and we conceded in one action and then it was tough to score."

Spurs have been competing gamely on two fronts in recent weeks as they chase a Champions League spot for nest season and now must prepare for a huge clash against Ajax in the semi-final of the Champions League on Tuesday.

"The effort was massive. With all the circumstances, I'm happy with the effort but I was disappointed with the result. What we can do now is prepare for the next game. It's going to be tough again. It's important the recovery of the players to have full energy to compete in a very difficult game.

"The motivation is going to there and that's the reality. The reality is that it's tough to compete because with the pressure to win every single game because we're in the race for the top four and then we played in the quarter-final [of the Champions League] against Manchester City - three games in ten days.

"It's always demanding and it's a massive effort and that's why there is nothing to say about the effort [against West Ham], I'm disappointed only about the result," he added.

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Pochettino Premier League Spurs Tottenham Hotspur West Ham