Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Mauricio Pochettino: Spurs 'needed' Swansea win to restore confidence

LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino admitted Tottenham "needed" Saturday's 5-0 victory over Swansea to restore confidence after a difficult period for the club.

Spurs went into the game with one win from their last 10 matches and following back-to-back defeats to Monaco, which eliminated them from the Champions League, and Premier League rivals Chelsea.

But they utterly dominated Bob Bradley's Swans and the win moves them to within three points of Manchester City and Liverpool, and seven clear of West Brom, who leapfrogged Manchester United into sixth.

"We fully deserved the result in the end. We dominated, we created chances, we played. They didn't shoot, they didn't create chances. It was a very good performance. I'm happy for the three points and happy because we needed a victory like that today, after Monaco and Chelsea," the Spurs manager told a postmatch news conference.

"I don't think it was the best [performance of the season]. When we played against Manchester City we were better. But it's always good to stay close to the top. We have ahead very important games now and it was important to bring confidence for us."

Harry Kane scored a first-half penalty after Dele Alli clashed with former Spurs player Kyle Naughton, and he added a cool second after the break to make it seven league goals this season, and six in five matches since returning from ankle ligament damage.

"After his injury it was good for him to work on his consistency," Pochettino said of Kane. "Last week was important for him to work on his fitness."

Replays suggested Alli may have dived to win the spot kick, but Pochettino said he did not have a clear view of the incident.

"I didn't see it. From the first moment, I asked Jesus [Perez] and my other assistants what happened. Was it was a corner, a foul, a penalty -- I didn't know!

"From my position it's impossible to see and I haven't had the chance to see on TV yet. It's impossible to give my opinion.

"I'm happy with him [Alli]. He has recovered the feeling from last year. He's young, he needs to find his best be consistent. That is a challenge for him."

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