Mauricio Pochettino says Crystal Palace win was ‘best performance’ of season

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has praised his side for completing their ‘best performance’ of the season in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Spurs, who collected their first home win of the campaign, have enjoyed a successful week having beaten Sunderland, Qarabag and now Palace successively.

Pochettino believes his side performed the best they have all season long, having put on both a strong defensive and attacking display against the Eagles.

Heung-Min Son, who scored the decisive goal against Alan Pardew’s side, has now scored three goals in three appearances for the North London side.

The South Korean star has received wide praise as a result, although team-mate Harry Kane is yet to get off the mark this season.

Tottenham face North London rivals Arsenal in the third round of the Capital One Cup at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Listen to the Spurs head-coach in full here: 

Mauricio Pochettino says goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is ‘world-class’

Mauricio Pochettino has praised his goalkeeper after the Frenchman produced a stunning display to thwart Crystal Palace in the 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Lloris, who said after the game that his team deserved to win, produced a number of successful stops to keep Alan Pardew’s side at bay on Sunday afternoon.

“We are much better now than at the beginning (of the season),” the Argentine stated.

“We play with a very young squad and the new players that have come. I am very happy with the few victories that we have got.”

Spurs, who have now won three games in the space of seven days, have a tough week ahead with the visit of North London rivals Arsenal and Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Pochettino continued: “I think it is important to build confidence and trust with the three clean sheets. I think there are a lot of positives that we can take. Today that was clear that we were strong and showed good character.

“This is the way we want to play, to build a strong team for the future,” he remarked.

But it was the performance of his goalkeeper that drew a strongly positive reaction from the Spurs head-coach.

“I think Hugo is one of the world-class keepers. I am very pleased to work with him and I am happy. He has shown many times that he is one of the best.”

Mauricio Pochettino and his side face Arsenal in the third round of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening.

AUDIO: Hugo Lloris believes Tottenham Hotspur deserved to beat Crystal Palace

Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris believes his side deserved to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, thanks to a goal from new recruit Heung-Min Son.

Son, who has now scored three goals in three games for his new club, netted the only goal in a strong attacking and defensive performance for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Palace, who started with their best possible lineup in North London, struggled to come into the game despite Yohan Cabaye hitting the post in the first half.

Son was rewarded with the Sky Sports man of the match for his display against Alan Pardew’s side. The South Korean international also netted a double against FK Qarabag on Thursday in the Europa League.

Lloris believed it was a “good win,” over a “good team,” who are going to make lives difficult for other teams in the Premier League.

Listen to the goalkeeper and Spurs’ new signing in full here: 

Injury update ahead of Crystal Palace: Tottenham midfield trio could return

Tottenham Hotspur could have three crucial midfielders back this weekend for the massive game against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

BBC Sport understand Mauricio Pochettino could have Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen and Ryan Mason all available after injury.

Spurs picked up their first win of the Premier League season last weekend against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, with Ryan Mason scoring the well-worked late winner for the travelling side.

Eric Dier was substituted off with suspected cramp in the 3-1 win over FK Qarabag on Thursday night, but was able to continue for a brief period. His substitution appeared a precaution.

Elsewhere, Nabil Bentaleb confirmed over social media this week that his ankle injury will put him out for a reported three months.

Palace boss Alan Pardew has been rather brave in his pre-match comments. He appeared to reassure Spurs fans that they ‘will finish in the top ten,’ after their less than satisfactory start to the campaign.

The two sides meet at White Hart Lane on Sunday with kick-off at 1:30pm. 

Tottenham Hotspur have no interest in Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolasie

Tottenham Hotspur have categorically denied that they are interested in Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie, according to Times reporter Gary Jacobs.

The winger has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane all summer, and despite such strong reports it seems Spurs are not chasing the Congo international.

Mauricio Pochettino may well have had interest in Bolasie at the start of the summer, however the similar signing of Clinton N’Jié from Lyon suggests that they were warned of Bolasie’s price tag.

@llewi01 @lilywhite_rose Reckon Erikson signs new deal. No news on the outs, Lennon/Andros/Fazio. They claim no interest in Bolasie

— Gary Jacob (@garyjacob) August 18, 2015

Despite many Spurs fans wanting this to go through, it seems Daniel Levy’s new £10-15million younger transfer policy is in full flow this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Yannick Bolasie: has it fallen through?

In yet another transfer window filled with every piece of speculation under the sun, it seems another Spurs-linked player has confirmed that he will not be joining the club this summer.

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane for most of the summer, and back in June favourited my tweet linking him to Spurs.

But now it seems that the player has confirmed over social media that his future remains at Selhurst Park. However, if a similar tweet by Mousa Dembélé is anything to go by, could it suggest that a deal fell through?

Just two days after Benjamin Stambouli completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Belgian midfielder tweeted a rare picture expressing his excitement for the upcoming season.

Dembélé, who is typically quiet on Twitter, appeared to confirm that he would not leave White Hart Lane but only after midfield competition in the form of Stambouli, Holtby, Capoue and Paulinho had sealed moves away.

Similarly, Bolasie is fairly discreet on social media, and this afternoon tweeted expressing his own excitement for the upcoming campaign. This leads many to speculate the timing of his tweet. Had no deal been in existence, why not declare enthusiasm for the season earlier?

Yesterday it was reported that Crystal Palace are determined to fight off interest in the winger. With the season beginning in just four days, has Daniel Levy failed in a move to sign Bolasie?

Tottenham Hotspur reject €7million bid from Paris Saint-Germain

L’Equipe report Tottenham Hotspur have rejected an opening €7million bid from Paris Saint-Germain for midfielder Benjamin Stambouli.

The French source understands Spurs are pushing for a higher fee for the player, and that Daniel Levy believes PSG have the funds available to offer Stambouli a larger deal.

Reports understand Stambouli already has an offer in place from Watford, and should Spurs accept another bid from the French side, the player will have the choice between the two sides.

L’Equipe understand Stambouli is a replacement for Yohan Cabaye, who left the club last week to join Premier League side Crystal Palace.

The source continues to state that the Tottenham midfielder will be offered a four or five year contract by the French giants.

Nacer Chadli would be top-scorer for 11 Premier League clubs, including Liverpool!

Tottenham winger Nacer Chadli has come on leaps and bounds for the club this season, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for the North London side.

Part of the Tottenham trio to have reached 10+ goals this campaign, the Belgian has reinvented himself under Mauricio Pochettino, despite still having a relatively strong season last year.

When looking closely at his impressive stats this season in the Premier League, it seems Chadli would have faired well at many of the top flight sides.

With 11 Premier League goals to his name, the former FC Twente man would be top-scorer for: Burnley, Crystal Palace, Everton, Hull City, Leicester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City and West Ham United.

Despite many of those clubs being in trouble this campaign, the fact that Chadli would be top-scorer at the likes of Palace, Swansea and particularly Liverpool raises eyebrows.

As much as it highlights the capabilities of the Belgian, it also shows the relatively poor season for the forwards at some of the other large teams. Let’s not forget, Chadli himself is still a winger. Part of the reason he has progressed this year has been his considerable muscle build-up over the summer, which allowed him to battle better on the field.

With the season coming to a close, Nacer Chadli can rest easy in the knowledge of his tremendous campaign. With a strong pre-season, hopefully he comes back even stronger for Spurs in 2015/16.

 

Tottenham set to announce new member of staff

Tottenham are set to appoint Bournemouth head of recruitment David Webb to their backroom staff, according to Goal. 

With reports today suggesting that technical director Franco Baldini is set to leave the club, it comes as no surprise that Spurs are boosting their backroom staff.

Webb is credited with unearthing Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, a dynamic attacker that has taken the Premier League by storm, despite a quiet spell at Manchester United.

Webb himself has worked for Spurs before, having adopted the role of academy coach and scout between 2005 and 2007.

The Bournemouth scout would join the increasingly exciting backroom staff at the club, with Paul Mitchell (yes they would be ‘Mitchell and Webb’) joining last summer from Southampton.

It is clear that Mauricio Pochettino has the full support of Daniel Levy, with the pair seemingly in agreement over the transfer policies of the club going forward (with these appointments in tribute to that).

According to Goal, Webb will be responsible primarily for identifying ‘elite’ targets between the age of 14 and 21.

With Webb joining as Mitchell’s number two, it seems we are in for an exciting summer at Tottenham Hotspur. With the club set for a mass overhaul, their policy of signing young replacement players between £10-15million could fit Webb’s profile.