“We started the game slowly with a lack of energy and I am very disappointed with that”, Pochettino said.
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With tireless pressing of the ball in their own half, Koeman’s side were refusing to allow Tottenham to work their way through to the penalty area but when they did, they found Everton’s three-man central defence in stubborn mood.
“But we will work on it, and you saw Ross in the second half working hard for the team”. The acquisition of Vincent Janssen does give Tottenham the ability to play two strikers at once, but I believe it’s way too early in the season for Poch to pull out that trump card.
These two sides are full of promising young English players, and will both be looking to make amends for what can only be described as disappointing campaigns past year.
Mason Holgate, a member of that trio, was also one of three players making their first Everton starts, the other two being goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and defensive midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
“You have to wait as long as possible and then you have to gamble and I went the right way and managed to make a good save”.
Matters were made worse for Tottenham when Mauricio Pochettino was forced into a first-half change, with Lloris having to be replaced by Vorm after picking up a hamstring injury, and the former Swansea City man did brilliantly to prevent Deulofeu netting from close-range on the stroke of half-time.
And Pochettino believes the lack of energy before the interval might well have been down to his players shaking off the effects of global duty during the close-season.
The hosts ought to have doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time, when Deulofeu seized on a poor backpass from Danny Rose and raced clear of Jan Vertonghen, but was denied by a smart save from Vorm. “We need to improve a lot of things – to compete better, to behave better, to be more calm, to focus more on things that can improve the team”.
“We were a young team so that is good for us”. “He brought energy and is a different option to play with”. We are physically stronger, everyone is a year older.
Tottenham took control of the final 15 minutes of the match as they forced Everton into their own half in pursuit of a victor, but the Toffees continued to look threatening on the break.
‘Of course, I would like to keep all my best players but I know football.
“But he got some big chances and he needs to score in positions like that”.
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“First of all, I am happy about the team performance”, Koeman said.
