Spurs will rise again - Pochettino

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Diego Costa of Chelsea pulls on the shirt of Harry Kane of Spurs during the Capital One Cup Final match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on March 1, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Diego Costa of Chelsea pulls on the shirt of Harry Kane of Spurs during the Capital One Cup Final match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on March 1, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Published Mar 2, 2015

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Mauricio Pochettino is confident his young Tottenham squad will be involved in many more cup finals in the years ahead, despite losing the Capital One Cup final to Chelsea yesterday.

The Spurs manager was impressed by what he saw from his side as they outplayed Chelsea for spells of the game at Wembley but conceded either side of half-time.

Pochettino said: ‘We are a very young squad: today, 23.5 average age. For many players, they will play a lot of finals in the next few years.

We played much better in the first half, and we respected our style and philosophy. We have to take a lot of positives.

‘We finished the game stronger than them. We created, in the last 12 minutes, many chances. We were in the game if we’d scored.’

Pochettino admitted that playing a Europa League tie in Florence three days before the final was not ideal preparation, but added: ‘It’s not an excuse. We need to improve and learn. We will do that from this final. This group has a very bright future.

‘For us, it’s one step forward because the team is very young. For many players, it was the first final. Before the game, when we were on the pitch, I asked Harry Kane if it was his first time at Wembley and he said yes. But it’s a good experience for our team.’

Pochettino, in his first season in charge at the club, said it was an honour to be on the touchline alongside Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

‘I admire Mourinho, he’s one of the best managers in the world,’ Pochettino revealed. ‘When I was a player I played against him. And now, to stay face to face in the final at Wembley, it was a dream. I have a lot of respect for him.’ – Daily Mail

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