Mauricio Pochettino: 'Rose has shown real quality to help his team. It was lovely to hear the crowd singing his name'

Published: 28 February, 2016
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 2, SWANSEA CITY 1


MATCH-winner Danny Rose, who hit a second-half goal to seal all three points against Swansea at White Hart Lane, was the first Tottenham player Mauricio Pochettino spoke to when he took over the reigns, the Argentine boss revealed today.

Speaking after the 2-1 victory – which keeps Tottenham two points behind league leaders Leicester – Pochettino said he had a chat that settled Rose's future on his first day at White Hart Lane.

“His was the first meeting I had with any player,” said Pochettino.

“I’d just joined and I asked him into my office and I was happy to tell him I wanted him to stay here and work with us.”

Rose put in one of a number of strong performances in a game that saw Spurs fall behind to a first-half effort from Alberto Paloschi but then pepper the Swansea goal with more than 30 shots as they fought back.

Spurs enjoyed all the chances but it took a substitution by Pochettino in the second half to make things level. He brought on Nacer Chadli for Erik Lamela and the Belgium forward turned home on 70 minutes. Seven minutes later, Rose smashed in the winner.

“Rose has shown real quality to help his team,” added Pochettino.

“It was lovely to hear the crowd singing his name.”

Spurs started brightly, although it was ex-Spur Gylfi Sigurdsson who nearly opened the scoring. On just three minutes he was found in space and his goalbound shot was athletically tipped away by Hugo Lloris. 

It was a warning: while it was generally one-way traffic, on a rare Swansea attack Paloschi finished on 19 minutes.

It prompted Pochettino's charges to up their game: Heung-Min Son tested Lukas Fabianski in the Swansea goal on 34, and then the Polish keeper dealt with a Harry Kane volley and a Christian Eriksen free-kick.

In the second half, Fabianski did brilliantly to stop another Eriksen dead-ball shot on the line, and foiled Kane once more.

Then came the equaliser. Rose forced Fabianski to tip over a long-range effort, Walker drove a ball back into the melee and Chadli was there to turn it home.

On 77, Rose turned match-winner, collecting a clearance and shooting home through a thicket of legs.

“The players are happy and very pleased with the result,” said Pochettino. “But there is not much time to prepare for Wednesday’s game versus West Ham. They need to recover, focus and start again.”

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Dier, Alli, Eriksen, Kane (Onomah, 83), Son (Mason, 74), Lamela (Chadli, 62).

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

CHOOSING a man of the match today was pretty hard: Lloris made some great saves, Kevin Wimmer is growing into his role, Toby Alderweireld looks like the signing of the season, Dele Alli, Son, Lamela and Kane all played well, while Rose fought for everything and scored a goal that keeps title hopes bubbling.

But in midfield, there was a touch of extra class. Eriksen was asked to drop deeper than usual. He filed the space made by Mousa Dembele's injury, and turned in the type of all-round performance fans associate with Luka Modric.

He looked the complete player. Today, Tottenham's Great Dane came of age.