Tottenham vs Monaco: Mauricio Pochettino blames players' 'lack of passion' for Champions League loss

The Argentine was brutally honest in the wake of the side's 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco and criticised his side for their lack of passion

Pochettino believed his players could have given more on the pitch (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino blamed his players' lack of passion and aggression on the pitch for their opening Champions League 2-1 defeat to Monaco on Wednesday night.

Spurs fought in vain to take something from the game but struggled to overturn an early deficit after the French visitors netted twice within the opening 30 minutes.

“We need to be more aggressive in possession and we have to score with it,” he said. “We need to be more, more and more aggressive. We need to show more hunger, we need to show more passion. I think that we showed a lack of passion today…that is the truth."

Given the side had waited five years to make their return to the Champions League, the Argentine admitted that he was taken aback by his side’s lack of fire.

“It's a shame. Today was a good opportunity to give to our fans a very good performance and victory but it's a shame that we cannot.

“I think it was a fantastic opportunity. We wait a lot to wait for Champions League and we fight a lot last season to be here, and you feel why not do more?”

Despite his side’s apparent shortcomings, Pochettino remarked that he still thought Tottenham played the better football on the night.

“I think that we started well, we created a few chances but then we conceded after 15 minutes - we concede a goal that you cannot concede at this level in the Premier League, Champions League, when you play for Tottenham. It is difficult to accept the way we conceded today.

“The second was the same. At 2-0 down it was very difficult. It's true that we created more chances [in the second half], more corners, more shots, more position, all of that - we were better than Monaco but they were more effective.”

Pochettino added: “I was clear with my players at half time… I cannot change the rules. It is not a basketball game where you can change all the team. Maybe in my position I would change.

“But I think that we needed more control of the ball and more creativity in the central midfield and the position for Dele Alli to push a little more on the pitch and create more to be more aggressive.”

When asked if he thought the change in stadium had affected his player’s performance, the Argentine admitted that: “It is not a good excuse. Football is on the pitch, on the grass, you play and you need to improve and learn that we cannot concede a goal how we can concede.”

For all the club’s efforts, there was a sense of intimacy missing from the evening. The same songs were sung and the crowds unveiled the same signs and banners as they have always done - but it failed to replicate the sense of familiarity and comfort of White Hart Lane.

Erik Lamela in action for Spurs (Getty)

Nonetheless, as Pochettino himself noted, it is early days for Tottenham and the club have a long road ahead of them with plenty of opportunities on offer to rectify the disappointment of Wednesday evening.

"It's only the first game but we need to improve and fast," he said.

"We need to play with more hunger and passion.

"We need to look at ourselves and criticise ourselves because it was our mistakes."