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Pochettino: The team deserves all the praise

Cape Town - Manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted for Tottenham Hotspur to have picked up maximum points from their Champions League group.

Spurs had already secured their first-place finish in Group H and progression to the last-16 of the tournament ahead of beating APOEL 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Fernando Llorente, Heung-Min Son and Georges-Kevin N'Koudou were all target in an altered line up from Pochettino.

An impressive European run saw Spurs beat and draw with Real Madrid and defeat Borussia Dortmund twice.

And after this match at Wembley on Wednesday night, the delighted head coach said: "It was fantastic to finish in this way and important for us to build our momentum and confidence. 

"It was also so important for many players who don't have the opportunity to play in the starting 11 every game to build their confidence as well. It's important to add that competition for places in the squad."

Michel Vorm started in goal for Spurs, with Pochettino adding: "It was amazing. We didn’t realise until a few minutes before the game that it was going to be his first game.

"We played two centre-backs (aged) 21 and 19 in the Champions League, unbelievable.

"I’m very happy for GK and of course Fernando. They both scored and it’s so important for them, first of all to feel the net and confidence is so important, they played 90 minutes and helped the team to finish in this way.

Pochettino concluded: "The campaign was fantastic, a lot of things to be very proud of. The team deserves all the praise.”

Llorente himself added: "It’s a very important day for me. I needed it (the goal) for my confidence. 

"I work very hard to give the best performance I can, always try to give my best and now I have to keep working in this way."

And Vorm said: "If you can rotate like we did today and still win 3-0 in the Champions League it's full compliments to the players. 

"We've had a great run in the Champions League and now we have to take this form into the Premier League."

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