Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino believes qualifying for next season’s Champions League is made even more impressive by having had to play away from their traditional home venue, the White Lane.
The Lillywhites adopted the Wembley Stadium as their home ground this season, due to redevelopment works going on at the White Hart Lane.
Harry Kane’s second-half goal earned a 1-0 win over Newcastle which ensured a third successive top-four finish after Chelsea could only draw with Huddersfield.
“Maybe people didn’t realise that it was so tough for the players, so tough for the staff and the fans,” Pochettino said after the game against Newcastle United.
“It was so difficult every week, or every game that we play here to move from White Hart Lane to Wembley.
“I think that is why I feel so proud. So proud about this group of players, to achieve the top four in that condition, despite many things that happened during the season, if you are not strong mentally or physically, and you show (don’t) passion or care for this situation, it is difficult to achieve what we did today.”
Spurs will wrap up their campaign with one more outing at Wembley, against Leicester on Sunday, before heading home to their rebuilt White Hart Lane Stadium.
And Pochettino knows how important it was to ensure there would be Champions League football in their new home next season.
“For the club, it is a massive thing, to move to the new stadium and play in the Champions League, it will be another massive challenge,” the boss added.
“It will be a fantastic stadium but you need to make it your home, like with Wembley we will need time for that to happen.
“This group have the experience to make it feel like home.”
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