London: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed his change of system after his side beat Hull City 3-0 to remain unbeaten on home soil in the Premier League this term.
Two goals from Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen and one for Victor Wanyama at White Hart Lane on Wednesday ensured Spurs bounced back from defeat at Manchester United on Sunday.
Pochettino intriguingly opted to play three at the back, with Eric Dier drafted into a 3-3-3-1 formation not dissimilar to the system employed by Antonio Conte at leaders Chelsea.
“This season we were working hard on a different formation to provide the team with a different solution,” said Pochettino, whose side continue to trail Chelsea by 10 points in fifth place.
“Today we believed that was the way to play. I was very happy. It worked well.
“The first two goals came because of good work by our full-backs Kyle Walker and Danny Rose. They were higher and used like wing-backs.
“It was important to try and move the ball quick. It’s important to be clinical. The three points keep us in a very good position. We need to keep our faith and reduce the gap.
“For different reasons we feel comfortable here. We lost to Chelsea and Manchester United, but are playing well.
“It’s important to take a good result. We need to work hard to try and keep that feeling.”
Pochettino did concede his side did not always find it easy despite Eriksen’s early goal and admits lady luck shone on Tottenham.
‘Harsh’
“It was difficult at 1-0,” he said. “They had a very good chance to score and in football sometimes you need some luck and in that moment it was important to be safe and not concede.
“The three points is important. We fully deserved the result, but can struggle during the game.
“I’m very pleased with Christian’s performance. He was very aggressive, his run for the second goal. — AFP
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