Mauricio: 'Players and staff deserve massive credit'

As we approach the end of a relentless spell of five games in 13 days, Mauricio Pochettino has hailed the dedication of his back-room staff – as well as that of the squad – for helping to see us through.

Since the 1-0 loss to Manchester City on 29 October – a week ago on Monday – we’ve won at West Ham in the Carabao Cup and secured further victories against Wolves in the Premier League and PSV in a crunch Champions League tie this week.

We now head to Crystal Palace for our final outing before the international break on Saturday (5.30pm).

With several injuries to contend with, not to mention tough opposition, it’s been a gruelling period, but Mauricio is full of praise for the Club’s technical and medical staff for working extra-long hours and helping the players to remain competitive as the games keep on coming.

“It’s so tough because for me it’s many appearances in front of you (the media), press conferences, but you can image that for the players this is so tough too because it’s less than three days and you need to play again,” he told Spurs TV.

“I think it’s nearly two-and-a-half days and you need to prepare and be ready to play again – it’s so, so tough. That is why I am so happy and so pleased with the effort from the players and the staff.

“Sometimes we are so focused on the players but for the staff it’s a tough period too.

“They deserve massive credit because they work so hard to try to help the players to be ready, with all that you need to prepare. They wake up so early, they go to bed so late and when you play games how we are playing, this is always tough for them.

“I am so pleased with all the effort from the squad and the staff, of course.”