‘It was a fantastic job’: Pochettino praises scout Steven Hitchen for advising club to sign Moura

‘It was a fantastic job’: Mauricio Pochettino heaps praise on Tottenham scout Steven Hitchen for advising club to sign Lucas Moura following brilliant display against Manchester United

  • Tottenham beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Monday evening
  • Lucas Moura scored twice in the second half to help down the Red Devils
  • The Brazilian joined Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain for £25m in January 
  • He looks to have adapted to English football after a fine start to the season 

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has hailed chief scout Steven Hitchin for advising the club to sign Lucas Moura after the Brazilian winger put in a match-winning display againstManchester United.

Spurs ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford on Monday night with Moura netting twice following Harry Kane’s headed opener.

Moura, who joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain for £25million in January, took some time to adapt to English football but now has three goals in three games with Tottenham sitting second in the table after a perfect start to the season.

Mauricio Pochettino has hailed chief scout Steven Hitchin for the signing of Lucas Moura

Former Blackburn defender Hitchin was responsible for advising the club to sign the winger

Former Blackburn defender Hitchin was responsible for advising the club to sign the winger

And Pochettino has used his performances as a chance to praise Hitchin, who identified the player as a target earlier this year.

‘Yes, many, many praise he is going to receive now,’ said Pochettino when asked whether Moura had finally proven himself.

‘But for me I want to say to our chief scout Steve Hitchen and all the people that worked with him, because they advised to sign him. 

‘When the people sometimes criticise because always it is tough now, I think I need to say well done, because today’s performance from Lucas Moura, for the people that advised and feel responsible too, they need to be praised too.

Moura scores his second goal during Tottenham's 3-0 victory over Manchester United

Moura scores his second goal during Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United

‘That is why I want to congratulate them. There are always people who are working behind and it was a fantastic job because today I think Lucas deserves a lot of credit.’

Former Blackburn defender Hitchen, who is enjoying his second spell with Tottenham, played a role in bringing Luka Modric to the club, unearthing the midfielder from Dinamo Zagreb ahead of his move to White Hart Lane in 2008.

A former Liverpool scout, Hitchin also alerted the Anfield club to Luis Suarez during the Uruguayan’s career in Holland with Ajax. 

The winger was the star of the show as Spurs maintained their perfect start to the season 

The winger was the star of the show as Spurs maintained their perfect start to the season 

Advertisement

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk