Thu 01 November 2018, 00:28
Tottenham HotspurMauricio Pochettino rarely singles out individuals for praise - but he did just that to the only player to start both of our matches inside 48 hours this week, Davinson Sanchez, after our 3-1 win against West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
“He’s a beast,” said the manager after a commanding display from Davinson who was outstanding alongside Juan Foyth in central defence as we progressed to the quarter-finals at the London Stadium. The Colombian also started against Manchester City in the Premier League on Monday.
The young South Americans stood firm as the home side piled on the pressure before and after pulling a goal back to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining. It felt like Davinson was heading everything away at one point in this spell while Juan made one superb block to deny Marko Arnautovic.
It’s important to say (well done) to Davinson because the effort on Monday and tonight was massive. He showed great mentality. He’s a beast!
That resolute period defensively paid dividend at the other end when Fernando Llorente converted from Christian Eriksen’s corner to make it 3-1 and put the result to bed.
Earlier, Heung-Min Son returned to the scoresheet with two clinical finishes on 16 and 54 minutes to put us in charge of the tie. Lucas Perez replied on 70 before Llorente’s goal on 75.
“It was a very good performance," said Mauricio. "I’m very proud because this game was so complicated and another derby, a derby that in the end we won.
“It’s important to go into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and for a lot of players it was a fantastic opportunity to show their quality.
“It was a very competitive game after playing on Monday night. We nearly changed all the players and of course it’s important, after only 48 hours, to say (well done) to Davinson Sanchez because his effort on Monday and tonight was massive. He showed great mentality. He’s a beast!”
Asked who else impressed, Mauricio added: “Many players…players like Paulo, like Foyth, like Sonny who started to feel the net again, Fernando as well…I’m so happy.
“I’m so pleased. To win here is always difficult but we showed great character, great personality and the team competed very well.”
The win set up a mouth-watering quarter-final and north London derby at Arsenal on the week commencing 17 December.
