Tottenham’s players vowed to fight their way out of trouble after losing a third successive game.
Mousa Dembele claimed there were signs of encouragement to be taken from a late defeat at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Erik Lamela insisted the confidence in the camp remained intact and the squad had faith in their quality to rectify the slump since a 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Erik Lamela insists Tottenham will fight their way out of trouble following three straight defeats
Eric Dier (right) helps up a dejected Serge Aurier after the final whistle on Tuesday evening
Ben Davies demanded focus and hard work to eradicate simple errors before Saturday’s trip to Brighton.
‘It’s not the way we want to lose games,’ said Davies. ‘It was very down in the dressing room after the game. I’m sure the manager was angry.
‘We have to go back to the training pitch and look at what we could have done better and try to improve. It’s just about working hard.’
Inter came from behind to win with a sensational volley from Mauro Icardi and a headed goal from a corner in stoppage time by Matias Vecino.
Mauricio Pochettino questions his players after they gave up the lead late on in Italy
There were parallels to a 2-1 defeat at Watford where Spurs led before they conceded twice from set-pieces in the closing stages.
‘It’s a tough one,’ added Davies. ‘We obviously recognise that’s where the majority of goals are coming from. That’s frustrating.
‘It’s difficult to put our fingers on it. We have to go back to basics and work on that.’
At the other end of the pitch, Harry Kane seems to be missing his clinical edge in front of goal.
‘Harry is not a machine,’ said Lamela. ‘He scores a lot. He always scores. For two or three games he didn’t, but he will score again.
Mauro Icardi scored a superb volley to spark a late turnaround for Inter Milan on Tuesday
Matias Vecino rose highest to head home Inter Milan’s winning goal late on at the San Siro
Tuesday’s defeat drew parallels to Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Watford earlier this month
‘It’s not like Harry needs to score every single game. Christian scored in Milan, I scored against Liverpool.
‘Sonny will score. Lucas will score. All the pressure is not on Harry. All the attacking players need to score.
‘Against Inter, I don’t know honestly if we deserved to lose. In the second half, we scored and we managed the game.
‘They were tired, and we should have scored more goals. I had a lot of chances. My teammates too. Their ‘keeper did well…sometimes the ball goes in but it wasn’t like that.
Tottenham’s players appear dejected after Inter’s winner in their Champions League opener
Harry Kane missed a big opportunity to put Tottenham ahead in the first half at the San Siro
‘They had two chances and scored two goals. Football is like this sometimes but there’s nothing to say.
‘We have to move on, change the page. We have to improve and next time try to score and finish the game.
‘We believe in each other. We believe in this team. It’s time to win again. That’s why we always fight until the end of the season. We have confidence.’
The Inter defeat leaves Tottenham with little margin for error if they are to qualify.
Lionel Messi (right) scored a hat-trick against PSV Eindhoven to see Barcelona top the group
Barcelona, 4-0 winners against PSV Eindhoven and expected to take one of the top two places, are the next opponents, at Wembley.
First, Spurs go to Brighton hoping not to turn three defeats into four.
‘We need to keep heads up because there were a lot of positives,’ said Dembele. ‘We need to continue. We can’t leave it like this.
‘I understand everyone is disappointed but we need to turn this around now, there’s not too much time.’