Did you still have belief you could win even at 2-0 down?
I don't want to think which we would be my mood if we lose this game. I have to be honest, and also, after the first half, my feeling was positive. The only situation that I ask of my players is that we are to show more personality and take more responsibility because this game was on us.
I think in the second half, despite conceding the second goal, we started to play nasty, with a will and desire to hurt the opponent. To not only move the ball and show 'look, we are good and so nice' but in an effective way. I think we created many chances to score and at the end, we won the game in a difficult stadium because Bournemouth is a really good team.
It is not easy to play against them because when they play with these two strikers, it is very difficult to put pressure because every time you put pressure, they play a long ball. They had a good combination between the two strikers, but in the end, I think it was vital for us this win, especially after two losses in the Premier League, and now this win has given us enthusiasm and passion for going into Marseille and for playing a final. This game will be a final for us to go to the next round of the Champions League.
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FFrustrating to go behind to show personality?
But sometimes, it is difficult for me to understand why it happens in some situations, but I think that we started a path with this group of players. Maybe in three or four days, it will be one year that I will stay in Tottenham, and I will work with this group of players. For me, these guys are really, really good guys, really good players, but sometimes they lose confidence easily.
I think we have to try to work and continue to work on this aspect because sometimes it is frustrating when you try. You work a lot and try to find a solution to hurt your opponent, and sometimes you see your team up and down, up and down. We have to try to find stability.
I ask my players after the first half to take responsibility in their decision, and when I speak about responsibility to make the decision on the pitch, important decisions and not easy passes. For us, I think this is an important step that we had to do. We are working, we are in progress, we are work in progress, but at the same time, there is a lot of space for improvement, and we have to do this.
There was a picture of you walking down the tunnel. We wondered if you'd gone and had enough of the game.
I came back when I knew the goal was regular. I thought in my mind and my heart that I could have a heart attack because in two days to score and then have a goal disallowed. I said I go down and then stay calm, and then I wait for the decision of the referee. But for sure, it was great to see the desire of my players and the reaction they had.
I also repeat the nastiness they put into the pitch because I have seen in the eyes of my players the desire to win this game. Also, when we drew 2-2 and then in our mind, the only thought was to take the ball and start to play again. This reaction was really positive, and I want this from my players.
Lots of crosses throughout the game. What was that down to?
For us, it is very important when you play with three at the back. It's important the quality, important to have not only defenders but also players who are really good with the ball to build up and then become the striker because they have to play and attack and stay. When you start to play with three at the back when you have the ball, we work to stay with the two at the back and go offensive.
I think in the second half, when we had nothing to lose, we started to do this. My players have to understand we have to do what we try during the training session and not only because we are losing 2-0. We have to attack. We have to attack and not only to defend our goal.
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