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| Mauricio Pochettino has accused his Tottenham team of complacency after their 2-1 defeat |
MAURICIO POCHETTINO, the Tottenham manager, last night accused his team of complacency as Spurs were beaten by Anderlecht in Brussels in the third group game of the Europa League.
The angry Argentine admitted his men lost their focus after going a goal up as early as the fourth minute and then squandering a great chance six minutes later.
Normally mild-mannered, Pochettino was upset after this defeat ensured no easy passage out of Group J, saying his players need to learn tough lessons if they wish to progress in the competition.
"It was a bad day and we need to fix that," Pochettino said.
"We need to feel the pressure, because today, we don't feel the pressure after ten minutes.
"It seems it was an easy game and then we lose 2-1.
"When you concede the possibility to the opponent to come back into the game the way that we conceded it today, the dynamic changes.
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| Christian Eriksen celebrating with Erik Lamela after opening the scoring for Tottenham |
"We lost our focus and, after ten minutes, the games changed completely.
"This was our problem tonight and we need to learn. We are very young, but we need to learn a lot.
"When you are the best team on the pitch after 10 minutes and you believe that you can win the game, you need to win the game. Your focus needs to be 200%.
"But when you lose your focus, it is difficult to come back.
"Am I angry, frustrated, disappointed? I don't know which word is best to describe me.
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| Guillaume Gillet celebrates scoring Anderlecht's equaliser in the Europa League |
"We need to realise that we need to compete every game, in every single minute, in different games and different competitions, and we need to give our best.
"It's difficult to manage and say, 'okay, 1-0, now I don't put the effort in, I lost my focus'. We need to be focused for 90 minutes, 95 minutes."
Spurs started extremely brightly and Christian Eriksen slotted home with his left foot in the fourth minute, after picking up a pass from Erik Lamela.
The Dane lost possession but was extremely lucky when the giant Serigne Mbodji's clearance hit Leander Dendoncker high in his face rebounded perfectly for him to slot home with his left foot.
In the tenth minute Lamela shot pathetically tamely straight at Silvio Proto from eight yards when played clean through by Eriksen.
But the Belgium side were back in it when in the 13th minute after Spurs failed miserably to clear a corner from the right.
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| Stefana Okaka Chuka celebrates scoring the Belgian side's winner |
It went right across their goalmouth to the unmarked Guillaume Gillet, who had time to control on his thigh and volley back into the opposite corner with his right foot.
Substitute Harry Kane had a great chance in the 69th minute racing onto a Ben Davies pass.
But he failed to get enough bend on his sidefooted shot and Proto was able to block with his legs.
It was to prove costly as Anderlecht grabbed the winner in the 75th minute.
A defence-splitting ball from Ivan Obradovic sent substitute Frank Acheampong scurrying clear and he squared perfectly for ex-Fulham striker Stefano Okaka to slot home.
Okaka's right boot had come off just seconds before, as he slipped on the pitch, and it did again as he scored, with the Italian international parading it in front of delighted fans as he celebrated.
ANDERLECHT (4-2-3-1): Proto; Gillet, Mbodji, Deschacht, Obradovic; Tielemans, Defour; Ezekiel (Acheampong 67), Dendoncker, Praet (Conte 90); Okaka (Sylla 88). Subs: Roef, Nuytinck, Heylen, Sylla, Kakaya.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele (Alli 66); Townsend, Eriksen, Lamela; Njie (Kane 59). Subs: Vorm, Rose, Onomah, Wimmer, Winks.
REFEREE: Pol van Boekel (Holland)
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