Poch: I'm very proud of my players

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hits back at suggestions their Champions League exit was a 'nightmare'.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted that his side “were the better team” over their two matches against Juventus, despite crashing out of the Champions League after a painful 3-2 aggregate defeat.

Having drawn the first-leg in Turin 2-2, Spurs took the lead at Wembley thanks to a first-half goal from the superb Son Heung-min, and appeared to be on course for their first appearance in the last eight of the competition since the 2010/11 season.

But a disastrous two-minute spell in the second-half saw Pochettino’s side concede two sloppy goals, with Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala scoring to ensure Tottenham became the first of the five English teams in this year’s Champions League to fall.

However Pochettino refused to dwell on his team’s mistakes, insisting he was “proud” of their performance and that they were a better team than Juventus over the two legs.

“It was not a lack of experience, but a lack of concentration,” he insisted in his press conference after the match “But in the way that we lost, I am proud.

“In less than three minutes we conceded two goals, (we made) two big mistakes - and that is why we are out of the competition.

“But at the same time I think we were in both legs, in both games we were the better team.

“We conceded and I think it was just two mistakes in the game. But they have quality and if you make a mistake they will score.”

Pochettino added that his team would grow from their defeat and were better off for their experience in this year’s tournament. Tottenham’s attentions will now turn back towards the Premier League, as well as their FA Cup quarter-final against Swansea.

“I feel proud because we were the better team,” he added. “Of course I'm disappointed but it is a part of growing. For us it was tough but a fantastic experience for us.”