Pubished 19 March, 2016
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Europa League, Round of 16
SPURS 1, BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2 (Dortmund win 5-1 on aggregate)

SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino used his post-match press conference to issue a defiant rallying cry after watching his side comprehensively outclassed over two legs by Borussia Dortmund, stating: now we aim to win the league.

He had seen his team go through the motions in this European dead rubber tie – Spurs were trailing 3-0 from the away leg against the German high-flyers – and admitted the competition had been somewhat a distraction as the side take a shot at the title.

“We are disappointed to be out of the Europa League but now we have eight Premier League games and our aim is to win every one,” he said.

“We are in a position where we can fight for everything. We need to focus on the Premier League and try to win every game. That is our intention.”

After last week's mauling in Germany, where Pochettino was criticised for fielding a weak side, Spurs had started brightly. Heung-Min Son and Eric Dier both went close in the opening 15 minutes, while Erik Lamela and Dele Alli showed they were suited to compete at Dortmund's level. But Spurs were undone when the side – made up of a mix of reserves and first-teamers – fell behind to a wonderful long-range effort by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on 24. His shot flew into Hugo Lloris's top corner from 30 yards. The same forward hit a second goal on 70, while Son pulled one back for the home team four minutes later with the tie long dead and buried.

Pochettino said that, despite the heavy defeat on aggregate, his young players had felt it was a positive experience and would stand them in good stead in the long-term.

“We've played a team that are at Champions League level and we have learned a lot,” he added. “It is true in the first leg we didn't play well and we didn't compete the way we normally do. But here we showed we can compete at this level.”

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

LAST year Nabil Bentaleb was a breakthrough act whose contribution was as important to the side as Harry Kane's. How sad, then, to see him fall so far from grace that Pochettino didn't even name him on the bench for this tie. It looks like Nabil is being given the same treatment Aaron Lennon, Andros Townsend and Emmanuel Adebayor had when the boss simply didn't fancy having them around. Unless there is a huge change in fortunes, expect him to be sold this summer.

Borussia Dortmund's fans were magnificent. They sang throughout, waved flags, banged drums and showed how football terraces can host a non-stop party. Let's hope when the new Lane is built, Spurs include a 'safe standing' section so the Tottenham faithful can enjoy games like their German counterparts are doing today.

SPURS: Lloris Davies (Rose 13) Wimmer Alderweireld Trippier Dier Mason Lamela (Onomah 75) Alli (Carroll 70) Chadli Son
Subs:Vorm Rose Kane Onomah Carroll Winks Carter-Vickers