Mauricio Pochettino: 'Now people can stop saying Spurs don't win at Wembley'

Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino says the victory meant more than just three points Credit: afp

Mauricio Pochettino claimed Tottenham Hotspur finally exorcised their Wembley curse by beating Borussia Dortmund and admitted the Champions League victory meant much more to the club than three points.

Two goals from Harry Kane and a Heung-Min Son strike secured a 3-1 win for Spurs and got them off to the best possible start in Group H.

But Pochettino felt the victory had wider implications than the Group H table and proved that Tottenham can win at Wembley, where they have lost to Chelsea and drawn with Burnley this season.

In last season’s Champions League, Spurs only won once at Wembley against CSKA Moscow when they had already been eliminated from the competition.

Following the victory over Dortmund, Tottenham manager Pochettino said: “Maybe people will stop talking about hoodoos like they have been for the past year. It’s fantastic not only because of three points. I hope it will stop the talk that has been around the team and the club.

“It’s massive, massive to start in that way. To get three points. It was so important to get the three points against a fantastic team like Borussia Dortmund, who have unbelievable players.

Harry Kane
Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's second Credit: Getty images

“It’s massive for our confidence. It’s massive to avenge everyone. It’s true that the game was so tough and they dominated the game. But we were very clinical and it was important we found a way to win.”

Pochettino also believes Kane will start to get the credit he deserves outside the Premier League if he scores regularly in Europe.

“To score goals in the Champions League means he will get the credit he deserves,” said Pochettino. “He is one of the best strikers in the world. The Champions League is one of the most important competitions in the world. It will give him the credit he deserves.”

The only downside for Tottenham was Jan Vertonghen’s late sending off after collecting his second yellow card for catching substitute Mario Gotze in the face with his hand.

Vertonghen will now miss the trip to Apoel Nicosia and Pochettino said: “I think we need to see because I think it was not the intention of Jan. He told us. But his performance was very good and it’s a shame he received that second yellow card.”

Dortmund were upset that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a goal ruled out for offside while Tottenham were winning 2-1. Asked if it should have stood, manager Peter Bosz said: “Yeah. 100 per cent.”

Aubameyang was onside when the ball was played into the box
Aubameyang was onside when the ball was played into the box Credit: BT Sport
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