Pochettino Happy With Efforts

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with the efforts of his much-changed side in Friday’s 7-0 thrashing of Tranmere. The Argentine was happy with his group after making eight alterations and still recording a huge away win in a tie that many thought could turn out to be difficult following the busy festive period. “Like all the competitions, we take it very seriously,” Pochettino said. “Of course sometimes you can win and sometimes you can lose, but always we are serious and respect the competition.”

The decision to bring on Harry Kane when boasting a six-goal lead raised eyebrows but Pochettino seemed puzzled by those questioning that move. “It’s important for him to score and have 20 minutes playing football,” the Spurs boss said. “I think it was important for him and for the team an important victory and to get to the next stage of the FA Cup. “It was an important fixture for the club. To be in four competitions is an important thing.”

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Pushed on whether the move to bring on Kane showed ruthlessness, Pochettino added: “It was respect. “Respect the people, respect the opponent. They’re not going to have many chances to see Harry Kane play here in a competition like the FA Cup. “I think it was a great atmosphere. For different reasons I decided to make a change and put Kane on the pitch but one of them is that. “It’s important to show respect to the people here so they could see Harry Kane, who is an icon in English football. It is difficult in that division to see it. It was important to see him in action.”