Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged Tottenham Hotspur could have “no excuses” after passing up the chance to move to the top of the league, something they last achieved at this advanced stage of a campaign in 1985, by succumbing 1-0 at West Ham United.
A run of six successive victories was checked by Michail Antonio’s early goal and a fine display by Slaven Bilic’s side, as Spurs suffered their first away defeat in the Premier League since the opening day of the season. The result leaves them three points off Leicester City, who actually extended their lead in midweek after all three sides who started immediately below them contrived to lose.
Pochettino refused to blame nerves for the loss, despite his team appearing anxious throughout a one-sided first half, as he contemplates Saturday’s visit of Arsenal to White Hart Lane. “No, no, no, no [not nerves],” he said.
“We made some mistakes that, normally, we don’t make. It was difficult and we were poor. We conceded the goal and it was very difficult. West Ham played better than us. We played better in the second half and might have deserved an equaliser but if you don’t score it’s difficult to come away with a point.
“There were different reasons why we didn’t play the way we normally do,” he added. “We were poor, this is true. We know that and the players know that, and are disappointed. The pitch doesn’t help in us trying to play the way we want to play. But we are near the top and have come through a very busy period, playing Europa League, FA Cup and now Premier League in one week. But it’s not about complaining. No excuses. Only that we were poor in the first half.”
Spurs can still scale the division, if perhaps only for a few hours, by beating Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime, though the unpredictable nature of the title race continues to keep all the challengers on edge.
“The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world, and you can see that every week,” added Pochettino. “For different reasons, it’s open and competitive and not easy to play every week. You need to be 100% mentally and physically every week. No easy games. But we need to be positive. Why not?
“There, in the changing room, you could see the players very disappointed. The way they fought in the second half was fantastic. It only lacked a goal.”
West Ham are now only a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City and can realistically aspire to bringing Champions League football to their new home at the Olympic Stadium next term, for all that their manager attempted to douse expectations. “Every manager is trying to calm things down,” said Slaven Bilic, who has lost his centre-half James Collins, possibly until next month, with a hamstring injury. “We are really not thinking about that [the Champions League] and we shouldn’t be thinking about that. OK, the gap is not big between us and Manchester United and Manchester City. But, unfortunately it’s also not big between us and seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th.
“There are still many games to go. It’s a very, very open season. We are going to approach the remainder of the season very confidently and thinking only about the game against Everton, who, at least on paper, are one of the best teams in England. We have big respect for them, but we are not afraid.”
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