We’ve
had a bumpy ride this season, but when the Palace game came and went (with us
winning 4-0) we thought we had turned the corner, we had such high expectations.
We felt we were ready and able to dismantle Olympiakos. After all, they weren’t
one of the great teams of Europe.
We
showed spirit to go all the way to the final last season, yet we were far from
our best as we made a shaky return to the competition in the port city of
Piraeus. We were playing in front of a packed stadium (31,001).
Straight
from kick-off, we struggled to break them down, but once through we were there,
or at least I thought we were. Goals from Kane and Moura (4 minutes apart), we
believed that that was it and we could go home. But Olympiakos had other ideas.
Having
allowed a 2-0 lead to slip against Arsenal in the Premier League on 1 September
– again, after conceding late at the end of the first half - this is the second
time in three games we had been left to ponder on what might have been.
Kane
won the penalty which led to him breaking the deadlock, he was clearly tripped
by Tunisia defender Yassine Meriah. Then Moura produced an emphatic finish
after Ben Davies marked his return by winning back possession and laying on the
pass for the Brazil winger to score an outstanding goal. On a night of missed
opportunities, Kane should have had a hat-trick. Yet, on two separate
occasions, Dele Alli - making his first start of the season - and substitute
Erik Lamela decided to go for glory instead of choosing the more comfortable
option of squaring to Kane to score.
Having
failed to win any of our first three group games last season, we know a point
in Greece could yet prove critical. We have won just five of our 17 away games
in all competitions this calendar year, including an FA Cup tie at then-League
Two club Tranmere Rovers.
Since
winning 2-1 at Fulham in the league on 20 January, we have managed just two
victories on the road - both in Europe, against Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.
Their
goals came from Castelo Podence (44' minutes) and Valbuena (54'minutes pen). We
had 56% of the possession but still walked away with only a point.
We
can’t carry on being so inconsistent. Liverpool are flying ahead in the league,
even though they lost to Napoli in the Champions League. Manchester City are
stumbling, which should have kept us focused, but didn’t.
The
stats
This
was the second time that we have failed to win a Champions League game having
been two goals ahead - and the first since drawing 2-2 with Werder Bremen in
September 2010.
Since
the start of last season, we have conceded more goals than any other side in
the Champions League (21).
Olympiakos
are without a win in nine Champions League matches, their longest winless run
in the competition.
Only
Ruud van Nistelrooy (19) and Roberto Soldado (19) scored their first 15
Champions League goals in fewer games than Harry Kane (20).
Lucas
Moura scored just his second goal from outside the box for us in all
competitions - and his first since August 2018 against Fulham.
What's
next for us?
We
are back in Premier League action at 12:30 BST on Saturday when we are at
Leicester City, while our next Champions League Group B game is at home to
Bayern Munich on 1 October.
It
was such a lovely day and atmosphere, and the players felt positive and upbeat.
We flew out on the Monday feeling ready for anything. But bottled it after we
got a two-goal lead. Pochettino now must shake them by the socks and make sure they are awake for the 90 minutes, not just a minute here and
there.
Come on Spurs, we know you can do it.
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