Mauricio Pochettino reveals two team meetings helped Tottenham to shrug off their 'bad feeling'

Pochettino held two meetings this weekend to remind his players of their responsibilities

Pochettino was delighted to see his team win (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino said that team meetings with his Tottenham players after two straight defeats helped to turn the side around for today’s 3-0 FA Cup defeat of Fulham.

Spurs lost 2-0 at Anfield last Saturday and 1-0 at KAA Gent on Thursday evening, two results that threatened to derail the season. But Pochettino revealed in the aftermath of today’s win that he spoke to the players on Friday and Saturday, reminding them of their responsibilities, which produced exactly the result he wanted.

“After Gent we had a few meetings [with the players] and the reaction was fantastic,” Pochettino said. “I am very pleased. Now we'll try and keep that feeling for Thursday.”

Pochettino admitted late on Thursday night that Spurs had entered a “bad period” after those two defeats, and so he was delighted to show today that his team was still “alive”, just when it looked like their season was at risk of petering out.

“It was a great opportunity today to show that we are alive, and end that bad feeling after two defeats,” Pochettino said. “To change and prepare for the Europa League. We have another 'final' at Wembley on Thursday and we'll need to feel fresh, and to bring some confidence back. That was important today.”

The Spurs squad had hoped to atone for their Liverpool defeat in Gent, but it did not happen, so Pochettino was delighted they managed to respond effectively today. “After two defeats, in football, that feeling when you lose is so difficult,” he said.

“All the players wanted to play and take the responsibility on today in a very difficult stadium, against a very difficult team. After 3-0 it looks as if it was easy, but that was because we took the game on in a very good way. We played as we need to play in every game.”

Jokanovic could not help but be impressed with Tottenham's quality (Getty Images)

Slavisa Jokanovic paid full credit to Spurs for coming to Fulham with a full-strength team and overpowering them. “All the credit to Spurs,” he said.

“They worked on and off the ball, outside the possession, they passed the ball easily and had so much energy. It was a different situation for us on our own pitch, where we usually dominate possession of the ball. They put us under their control for 85% of the game, so the result is fair.”