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Mauricio Pochettino calls on Tottenham players to deliver titles worthy of new stadium

Tottenham marked the first match in their stunning new ground with a first win in six matches, beating Crystal Palace 2-0

Miguel Delaney
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Wednesday 03 April 2019 23:10 BST
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New Tottenham stadium in numbers

Mauricio Pochettino described Tottenham Hotspur's opening night at their new stadium as “one of the best moments” in the lives of both himself and chairman Daniel Levy. Nonetheless, despite feeling like “World Cup winners” in their new facilities, the Spurs boss said the club must now go on to deliver actual trophies.

The Argentine’s side marked the first match in their stunning ground with a first win in six matches, beating Crystal Palace 2-0. He said that left him feeling proud, and that the place is already “home” but that there was some pressure too.

It took 55 minutes for the first goal to come, with Son Heung-Min claiming that to set them on the way to victory - 689 days after the last game at the old White Hart Lane. Christian Eriksen eventually made the win secure.

“I feel so proud,” Pochettino said. “So happy and it’s difficult to describe the emotions. It was very emotional before the game, in the build-up. I feel so proud to see the face of Daniel Levy. He was full of happiness in his face; his energy. For him, it’s one of the best moments in his life. He built one of the best stadium in the world.

“To be here as manager I am a lucky man. I want to say thank you to him. It was very emotional, like the last game at White Hart Lane; a very special day, one you will always keep in your heart. One of the best moments in my life and it will always be in my memories and my heart.”

Pochettino admitted that there was a certain pressure to mark the occasion with a win, especially since it was their first since 10 February.

“In football, like in in life you need to be brave and confident,” he added. ”It was a bit of pressure but the excitement and motivation from our fans made everything possible. We start to feel it is home. This is going to be so important a place for the future. We were right to move here, with all the risk, of course but in football if you want to achieve you need to be brave and we were brave to move and play here this season.

“For the opponent it is going to be difficult. I am manager of Tottenham you are so quick and fast in that atmosphere. It was impossible not to be affected by the energy. If you are not motivated to play in this atmosphere, something is not right in your head.

“And Tottenham is going to be a real contender for the big things. If we are not capable to think big we are going to struggle. It’s going to be an amazing project. We are World Cup winners in facilities, the best in the world, and we need to be in the same level on the pitch.”

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