Mauricio Pochettino resorted to a half-time video session to remind his Tottenham players of their game plan.
Heading into the break at 0-0 without so much as a shot on target, Pochettino showed his players some clips of various tactical positions in a bid to realign the squad with their goals.
Five things to know about Spurs 3-0 Dortmund
- Son Heung-min, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente all scored in the second half as Spurs won 3-0 at Wembley.
- Son has scored more times (9) against Dortmund than any other club in his career.
- Vertonghen spent the match playing at left-back, where he also provided an assist.
- Llorente came on in the 84th minute to score the first Champions League knockout goal of his career.
- Dortmund host Spurs in the last 16 return leg on 5 March at the Westfalenstadion.
Although the first half was uneventful, with Dortmund possibly even edging it, a 47th-minute goal from Son set the tone for the rest of the match.
Pochettino told reporters: “The first half was very difficult. First of all, because we never felt the confidence to play. We took some rash decisions. It’s like we weren’t comfortable. We didn’t feel what we planned to play.
“But after we fixed some problems, showing them some clips at half-time and talking a little about different positions — offensive and defensive — and trying to help the team to perform better.”
It clearly worked. Although the second goal didn’t come for over half an hour after the first strike, the side looked like they always knew what they were doing.
A lack of ideas characterised the first half. Besides some bright moments from Jadon Sancho, it was a dry affair. Upon returning to the field following the interval, though, Tottenham had a new intensity and drive.
Pochettino continued: “Also we were a bit lucky because it was a massive confidence boost when Sonny scored — it made the team play much better. We deserved the victory in the end.
“It was a massive victory and the players deserve all the credit. They were fantastic. To play after Sunday, with one day less recovery [than Dortmund], we need to praise them. They’ve won the possibility to have a few days off.
“It’s only the first leg, the first half of the tie. Of course, 3-0 is a very good result but when you have in front a team like Dortmund you always need to respect them. We need to go to Dortmund with the idea to win.”
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It’s a huge result to take to Germany. Dortmund’s ground is renowned as being a difficult place to go with their huge body of supporters forming the ‘yellow wall’.
The Germans are currently top of the Bundesliga, five points ahead of Bayern Munich having netted 54 times in their 21 games.
Still, the Argentinian manager has a trick: Son, who as it happens has scored more goals (9) against Dortmund than any other opponent. What’s more, in every match the South Korean has found the net (13 times) this season, Spurs have won.
When this was put to Pochettino in his press conference, he said: “Next time when Son scores I’ll go to the dressing room and shower and wait for the end of the game. It’s good, it’s nice.
“Sonny was fantastic again. He’s a player who provides the team with a lot of very good things. His smile, he translates good energy and his performance in every single game is improving and improving. We’re so happy.”
With a third place position in the league, the spotlight being on the dogfight between Manchester City and Liverpool, Tottenham has a privileged position of less pressure.
Both the Premier League and Champions League is very much still a possibility. Pochettino’s wait for some silverware could finally be coming to an end.
The post The half-time video clips that saw Spurs thump Dortmund appeared first on Squawka News.
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