Mauricio Pochettino revealed his greatest joy as a coach was helping Espanyol avoid relegation, not Tottenham s incredible win over Manchester City.
Pochettino guided Spurs into the Champions League semi-finals after a remarkable second leg against City on Wednesday.
While his side were beaten 4-3, they advanced on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
However, Pochettino said keeping Espanyol, the club he played for, in LaLiga in 2008-09 during his first job as a coach was a happier moment.
My greatest joy as a coach was in Almeria when we were saved [from relegation] because of what it meant to the whole Espanyol family, he told Spanish radio.
Simply, incredible.
04 1-0 Sterling (1-1)
07 1-1 Son (1-2)
10 1-2 Son (1-3)
11 2-2 B.Silva (2-3)
21 3-2 Sterling (3-3)
59 4-2 Aguero (4-3)
73 4-3 Llorente (4-4)
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
Fernando Llorente s 73rd-minute goal against City proved decisive, the effort standing despite a VAR review for a possible handball.
Even later drama was to come, Raheem Sterling denied a stoppage-time goal – initially given – due to an offside.
When he scored, I looked like The Incredible Hulk, Pochettino said.
I took off my jacket, I threw my sweater down [onto the ground] I sat down and then that s when they said that the VAR had disallowed it for offside.
At that moment, I revived. The injection of energy was incredible.
Spurs will face Ajax in the semi-finals.
