Thumbs up if you’re going to Madrid! Mauricio Pochettino smiles for the cameras at Tottenham training after masterminding Champions League heroics against Ajax
- Tottenham defied the odds to battle back and reach the Champions League final
- Spurs came from 3-0 down on aggregate to beat Ajax 3-3 via the away goals rule
- Tottenham finish their Premier League campaign at home to Everton on Sunday
After Wednesday night’s unforgettable night in Amsterdam, it was back to work for Mauricio Pochettino and his Tottenham stars.
Spurs enjoyed their greatest night in recent history with a stunning 3-1 semi-final second leg win at Ajax to book their place in the Champions League final against Liverpool on June 1 at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
The imminent all-English showdown in Madrid, came in the most dramatic fashion for Pochettino’s side as Lucas Moura’s injury-time strike, to complete his hat-trick, saw them prevail 3-3 on aggregate via the away goals rule.
Mauricio Pochettino gave a thumbs up to the cameras on the way in to Tottenham training
He was in good mood after steering Spurs to the Champions League final on Wednesday night
And while they celebrated wildly on Wednesday night, the focus has quickly shifted to this weekend when they end the domestic season against Everton.
Pochettino was seen arriving for training at the club’s Hotspur Way training ground as they prepare to host the Toffees in the Premier League on Sunday at 3pm.
The Argentine was rightly in a buoyant mood as he gave a thumbs up to the cameras as he drove into the facility.
Victory for Spurs on Sunday can see them finish third in the table – provided Chelsea don’t win at Leicester City at the same time.
It remains to be seen what team Pochettino will field against Marco Silva’s side following their breathless comeback against Ajax and with the Champions League final now on the horizon.
Pochettino is relishing the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid on June 1
Lucas Moura scored a second-half hat-trick as Tottenham came from behind to win at Ajax
Moura’s injury-time third saw Spurs progress to the Champions League final on away goals
Spurs have battled against two transfer windows without making a signing, a crippling injury list and playing most of the season at Wembley, leading Pochettino to call his players ‘superheroes’ following their Amsterdam heroics.
‘It’s difficult with words to describe my feelings and my emotions,’ he said after Wednesday night’s triumph.
‘I think it’s one of the most important nights in my life. How the game finished, everything that happened, the first half, how we planned to play, how the plan was down after three minutes when we conceded the goal, and I think everything was amazing.
‘The most important thing I want to say is to congratulate my players. They own the football, they delivered a great job.
Pochettino has hailed his team as ‘superheroes’ after their unforgettable night in Amsterdam
‘For me, they are heroes. I’ve told you the last six months, I repeat this sentence.
‘I think they are superheroes now. To get the club to the final of the Champions League I think is very close to a miracle.
‘No-one believed in us from the beginning of the season. We are so close to the top four and have the opportunity in Madrid to play the final against Liverpool.
‘It is an amazing season in our new home. This chapter that we’re going to close now, until June 1, it can be amazing to close the chapter playing a final. In case we win, it should be an amazing book.’