'Close the five-year chapter and go home' - Pochettino could leave if Spurs complete Champions League 'miracle' The manager says he could walk away from the club if they find a way to advance past Ajax and then win the final Mauricio Pochettino admitted that he could walk away from Tottenham if the club pulls off a "miracle" by winning the Champions League. Spurs are set to take on Ajax on Wednesday in Amsterdam in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. The Dutch side emerged with a 1-0 win from the opening clash, with Donny van de Beek's goal being just enough to give the Eredivisie side a vital away goal and an advantage heading home. Should Spurs overcome that advantage and go on to win the Champions League against Barcelona or Liverpool, Pochettino says he could walk away from the club as the achievement would be one that could not be topped. “Winning the Champions League? It should be fantastic, no? Close the five-year chapter and go home," Pochettino said. He added: “To win the Champions League with Tottenham, in this circumstance, in this season, maybe I need to think a little bit to do something different in the future, for sure. “Because to repeat this miracle, you know...But for sure I hope home. Whatever happens tomorrow, I go home.” Pochettino has been with Spurs for five seasons, having joined the club after previously managing Southampton and Espanyol. Jan Vertonghen will be available to help Spurs in pursuit of that "miracle" as Pochettino says the defender has been cleared to play and does not have a concussion. Article continues below “He didn’t suffer more than a cut on his nose. It was no more than that. A lot of players keep on playing in the same situation. It wasn’t a big issue and it’s not a big issue if he’s fit and we give him the opportunity to play," Pochettino said. “It’s not a problem. I think he will need a mask but it’s not a big issue.” Following Wednesday's second leg, Spurs will close the Premier League season on Sunday at Everton knowing that a point will be enough to secure Champions League qualification yet again.<doc-sep>Mauricio Pochettino not only broke down in tears on the pitch following Spurs' victory at Ajax, but also during his post-match interview as he issued an emotional message. The Argentine manager burst into tears as Spurs secured a spot in the Champions League final. His team came from two down to beat Ajax 3-2 on the night in dramatic fashion. Lucas Moura completed his hat-trick deep, deep into stoppage time to book Spurs' place in the final. Advert 10 And speaking after his side's victory, Pochettino couldn't hold back the tears as he produced a touching post-match interview. "Thank you football. Thank you my players, they are heroes." "Without football it is impossible to live." No, thank you :pray: Mauricio Pochettino cries during his post-match interview with @DesKellyBTS. This means everything to him... pic.twitter.com/ArpQwwnwDH - Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 8, 2019 "We were talking before the game in a meeting that when you work and you feel the love," he told BT Sport. "It's not a stress, it's the passion and I think the emotion we showed today is the passion and the love for the sport, it's football, and I think the game against Manchester City and today, it's amazing. Advert 10 "The fans and the people who are not from Ajax and from Tottenham we showed a lot and I think it was a joy to watch this kind of game, the emotion for us was so tough and difficult too." Image: PA The teary manager added: "I think to compete at this level, a magical competition, this situation can happen and of course I am so grateful to be a coach and be in football and to live in this type of moment. "It's for my family, it's for them to, the people that support us in these moments, it is for them, so thank you, we need to." Advert 10 He was also reduced to tears at the full-time whistle in moving scenes. Spurs will now play Liverpool in the Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid.<doc-sep>Tottenham Hotspur are in the Champions League final. Did you ever think you’d be reading those eight words? At halftime of their semi-final second leg clash with Ajax, it seemed impossible. But whatever Mauricio Pochettino said within the confines of the away dressing room at the Johan Cruyff Arena, it helped lay the foundation for one of the most logic-defying feats ever seen on a football pitch. Stream international football with beIN SPORTS on KAYO. Live coverage from 2018/19 La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Argentine Super Liga & more. Get your 14 day free trial > It’s an achievement that goes far beyond 45 minutes of madness, beyond three heroic flushes of Lucas Moura’s boot. Almost everything was against this result coming to fruition. This is a Spurs side missing its best player — Harry Kane — a club that hasn’t spent a cent in the transfer market in nearly eighteen months and, by all rights, shouldn’t have even made it out of the group stage. It was PSV Eindhoven’s 1-1 draw at Inter Milan back in early December that even allowed Spurs to qualify for the knockouts, having failed to win their first three European clashes of the season. They made it through based on, incredibly, head-to-head away goals at the expense of the Serie A side. WHAT DID WE JUST SEE? Spurs steal Champions League final spot with last gasp madness ‘HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?’: The moment Spurs pulled off ANOTHER Champions League miracle And it was only possible because that man Moura scored an 85th minute leveller at the Camp Nou. Pochettino has pulled off a miracle by guiding this club to a first ever Champions League final. And the performance that got them there has his style written all over it. “More than anything today we can talk about the quality of the players, the quality of the goal,” Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport. “Sometimes heart gets you through these situations, and the way that they dug deep, the way that they didn’t give up. They came out rolled their sleeves up, and credit to them, they were a representation of their manager.” Just as their final opponents Liverpool did some 24 hours earlier, this Spurs side dug into their deepest reserves and turned in a performance brimming with spirit. Pochettino isn’t one to hide emotion. ‘HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE HIM’: Tearful Tottenham boss’s emotional rollercoaster 2019 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: Everything you need to know He admitted earlier this year that he “cried a lot” when he left Southampton to join Spurs in 2014. And he was powerless to hold back those tears as he attempted to process the scenes that had created arguably his greatest achievement in the game. “Thank you football,” he said, breaking down on live television in his post-game interview. Those images have been beamed around the world and present a perfect representation of the manager and the man that built this Spurs team. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino celebrates on the pitch Source: AP Since taking over nearly five years ago, Pochettino has only missed the Champions League once – his first season in charge – and has managed to compete in the Premier League with big spenders like Manchesters City and United, Chelsea and Liverpool. He’s often slighted for a failure to bring home the silverware, the ongoing joke of Spurs ‘putting on the pressure’ as other teams swoop in for the prize has been wheeled out time and again online. But in a season where Spurs haven’t made a single signing and have been distracted by the final stages in their stadium project, Pochettino is one game away from finally reaping the spoils. HURRY KANE: ‘Injured’ Spurs superstar’s celebration causes stir ‘OH MY GOD’: Sporting world in meltdown over another football miracle “He’s doing a fantastic job, it’s easy to say that but he is,” said ex-Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle. “You can tell how close he is with the players and the players how they respect him. And you know what; you’ve got to say they haven’t gone out and spent a thing. Not because there wasn’t money there, he decided he didn’t want to buy in those two windows. “And so you’ve got to say, ‘my word, where can it go from here?’. We’re in the Champions League final. But to buy and add to that squad, it’s a fantastic time with that new stadium, what a time to be a Spurs fan.” Tottenham's Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino (2ndR) and staff celebrate the victory Source: AFP Oh ok, one more Source: Getty Images This victory meant plenty to the Argentine boss himself. You could see it as he slumped over on the pitch in disbelief at the final goal. After the 1-0 first leg loss in London, Pochettino had admitted to a tactical mistake. And after the first half in Amsterdam, that advantage had been tripled to leave Spurs on the brink. Their manager went back to the clipboard. He brought Fernando Llorente into the match, hauling off Victor Wanyama. It changed the game. “The strategy won,” Jose Mourinho said on beIN Sport. “[Daley] Blind couldn’t cope with [Fernando] Llorente. The defensive line couldn’t cope with the long ball, Llorente’s chest was the link for everything and strategy beat philosophy. “But in the end for us and for everyone, two unbelievable football nights and two lessons for life.” In a way, Pochettino versus Klopp is the perfect finale for this topsy turvy Champions League season. Lucas Moura is Pochettino’s most recent signing... he joined in January 2018 Source: AP The architects of two of the great escapes, and two tacticians who have reshaped their clubs based largely on emotion, respect and development. In modern day football, trophies are so often the measure of success. Regardless of the achievements a team pulls off, if they don’t hoist the Cup – it counts for little. And ultimately the two biggest victims of that rhetoric will now face off for the chance to silence their detractors.<doc-sep>Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. Mauricio Pochettino was an emotional wreck after watching his Tottenham side come back from 3-0 down against Ajax to reach the Champions League final. A stunning hat-trick from Lucas Moura, who scored a 96th-minute winner at the Johan Cruyff Arena, meant Spurs progressed thanks to the away goals rule. Tottenham players swarmed the pitch when Moura's pin-point strike found the bottom-right corner deep into stoppage time, with Pochettino darting for Ben Davies. He then collapsed to the floor clenching his fists before returning to the touchline as Spurs sought to defend their lead for the remaining minute. And that's exactly what they did to set up an all-English Champions League final next month with Liverpool. Pochettino couldn't hold back the tears at the final whistle, but once he composed himself he gave a passionate post-match interview. "The emotion is amazing. Thank you football. Thank you to my players. They are heroes. The second half was amazing," the Argentine said. "Without football it is impossible to live. I'm so emotional right now. Thank you to our fans. Thank you to the people that believed in us from the beginning of the season to achieve this." Pochettino repeatedly described his players as "heroes" for the way they navigated their way past Manchester City and Ajax against all odds. They've done incredibly well, especially considering they've been without star striker Harry Kane for the last few rounds due to injury. Pochettino was asked about Kane returning for the final in his post-match press conference and it seemed to really annoy the Spurs manager. In response to the question, Pochettino simply said: "Ciao," and then stood up to walk out. Clearly Pochettino wanted to focus on what the rest of his players had achieved in Amsterdam, rather than whether Kane will be available for the final with Liverpool. And you can hardly blame him for being frustrated. Kane is undoubtedly Spurs' best player, but his fitness isn't the concern right now. Even if the England captain is available for the final, there's an argument to be made that he shouldn't start ahead of the likes of Moura and Son Heung-min. News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>
This season's Champions League has been unreal. Tottenham looked dead and buried in their semi-final tie against Ajax. Mauricio Pochettino's side went into the second leg as the underdogs after being beaten 1-0 in London. And their task was made even harder after going 2-0 down in Amsterdam. Tottenham needed three second half goals in order to progress and Lucas Moura's quick-fire double gave them hope. As the time ticked away it looked as if Spurs would fall short of producing a miraculous comeback. But then, in the 96th minute, Lucas' left-footed strike found the corner of the net to send Spurs through. It was virtually the last kick of the game. Mauricio Pochettino could not contain his emotions after the goal. He ran on to the pitch and sank to his knees in complete disbelief. His tears continued past the final whistle as he celebrated after the game. The Argentine manager then delivered an incredible and emotional interview where he teared up once again. "It' still difficult to talk," he said. "The emotion is amazing. Thank you football. Thank you to my players. They are heroes. The second half was amazing. "Without football it is impossible to live. I'm so emotional right now. Thank you to our fans. Thank you to the people that believed in us from the beginning of the season to achieve this. I think it' fantastic. It's difficult to describe with words. "We were talking before the game in a meeting that when you work and you feel the love. "It's not a stress, it's the passion and I think the emotion we showed today is the passion and the love for the sport, it's football, and I think the game against Manchester City and today, it's amazing. "The fans and the people who are not from Ajax and from Tottenham we showed a lot and I think it was a joy to watch this kind of game, the emotion for us was so tough and difficult too. "I think to compete at this level, a magical competition, this situation can happen and of course I am so grateful to be a coach and be in football and to live in this type of moment." "Lucas Moura was a superhero. They are all heroes but he is a superhero. Unbelievable hat-trick. He deserves it. He's a great guy." Pochettino then struggled to fight back the tears. "I want to remember my family. It's for them too. For the people that support us in that moment, it's amazing to reward them. Thank you. "We need to be ready now for the next game on Sunday and then to prepare for the final in Madrid." Watch it below: What a brilliant interview. Who will win the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham? Have your say by leaving a comment below. News Now - Sport News