Mauricio Pochettino: Wembley starting to feel like home for us

Pochettino's Tottenham beat Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley on Sunday afternoon

The Tottenham boss believes his side are settling into life at Wembley (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino says that results like the 4-1 win over Liverpool will help “change the feeling” around Wembley and finally make it feel like “home” for Tottenham Hotspur.

The club’s temporary move to the national stadium while a new ground is built at White Hart Lane has prompted debate over whether it has psychologically hindered Spurs, but such talk was dismissed along with Liverpool in a thrilling display on Sunday, in what was just their second league win at the venue.

“I’m very pleased,” Pochettino said. “The effort was fantastic. After Tuesday in Madrid [a 1-1 draw against Real] to be ready again in a very big game, the way we started, the way we played it first 45 minutes was very good. I’m so pleased for the team, for the fans, because we start to change the feeling that it was difficult to play here at Wembley and start to feel that can be our home. That confidence is so important for the rest of the season.

“It’s so important that performance and that result always brings us more confidence in the way we are working. It’s so, so important. Many things can happen and it’s a long way to the end, but it’s really important after a real good perfomance and result in Madrid, against one of the best squads in the Premier League, the players deserve praise for that.”

The win also marked Pochettino’s first over Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool in his time at Spurs, although he was quick to remind reporters that he had beaten the Anfield club when Southampton manager.

“It was when I was in Southampton, we beat them two times. I think it was a very good game from both sides. Liverpool is a great team, a great manager, they always think to go forward. When you win, you enjoy more, but it was a fantastic afternoon to see a very good game.”

Pochettino also spoke about how he adapted his tactics to combat Mohamed Salah’s pace.

“When you decide to play in a certain way, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Salah plays on the right with his left, always coming inside. Serge [Aurier] is so fast, so strong on his right. He played in that position with Toulouse and PSG. We’re so happy and the credit is for the players because they played so well on the pitch.”