Mauricio Pochettino: 'What we need to be is more consistent. We need to work hard over the summer and come back stronger'

Published: 18 May, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 2, HULL CITY 0

SPURS coach Mauricio Pochettino called for greater consistency at home next term after watching his side comfortably beat struggling Hull in the season's last game at White Hart Lane.

Spurs won 2-0 with goals from Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose and, after the match, Pochettino called on his players to be more ruthless dealing with teams below them in the league.  

He said: “It is great to finish with a home win. Our supporters deserve it. But our home form has been both very good and bad. Some games were unbelievable – the wins against Chelsea and Arsenal, for example – and others were bad.   

“But when you start in a new club, with a new philosophy, and new ideas to a new group, it is not going to be easy.   

“What we need to be is more consistent. We need to work hard over the summer and come back stronger.”

He took time to single out winger Erik Lamela for an excellent display in what was at times a lethargic performance as a whole. He said: “He played very well today. It was a good game for him, and his confidence.

A quiet first half saw Hull go close twice through Nikica Jelavic, while Tottenham's best opportunity was via a half volley from Lamela after Ryan Mason spun his man in the box. Another bright moment saw Harry Kane send over a low cross that was inches away from being turned home by Chadli.   

Spurs eventually got into gear and saw off struggling Hull with something to spare, but it took them 45 minutes to get going.

On 54 minutes, an adventurous run by Lamela carved open space centrally. As Hull's defence backed off, he played a neat forward ball in for Chadli. The Belgium forward rounded goalkeeper Steven Harper and tucked it away.

On 60 minutes, full-back Danny Rose doubled the lead. He strode on to a through ball and volleyed home from 10 yards. It was a great finish, and all that his performances in recent weeks deserved.

Hull, who are fighting relegation, huffed and puffed to try and find a way back but everything they threw forward was just too simple for Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

It was a gentle way to end a home campaign that, as usual for Spurs, and as their head coach admitted, has had plenty of ups and downs.

SPURS: Lloris, Fazio, Vertonghen, Dier, Rose, Bentaleb, Mason (Stambouli, 79), Eriksen (Dembele, 58), Lamela, Chadli, Kane (Soldado, 88).
Subs: Vorm, Paulinho, Soldado, Yedlin, Townsend, Dembele, Stambouli.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Five thoughts on today:

Three players who at various times have had the fans on their backs have become unsung heroes of a transitional term.

Nacer Chadli's 11 goals are a good return. Erik Lamela now has more assists than any other midfielder. Danny Rose's no-nonsense approach has won him his fair share of man of the match awards. All three were excellent today.

It seems harsh to criticise perhaps the most talented player at the club but Christian Eriksen has been a frustration this spring. We know he can murder opponents, but he often gets bullied. He needs to develop a bit of the Luka Modric toughness about him over the summer.

Harry Kane's development into a goal machine has been wonderful to watch and his header to win the derby at the Lane was the standout moment, as he admitted when collecting the fans' Player of the Season award at the end of the game. To see Nabil Bentaleb cement his place after coming through the ranks with Kane was equally pleasing.

There are good footballers at Spurs who don't fit the system Pochettino plays. It would be a shame if Andros Townsend was sold due to the rigid adherance to inverted wingers. He is much better on the left, as England have seen.