Five things we learned from the defeat to Inter Milan

When it rains, it pours in football. After succumbing to two successive defeats in the Premier League, Spurs looked set to finally get back to winning ways after 85 minutes at the San Siro, only to have it all snatched away.

Eriksen gave Spurs the lead after 54 minutes, a deflected looping effort over a helpless Handonovic.

Tottenham were in total control, but conceded two goals in the final seven minutes, including a wonder strike by Mario Icardi.

Three straight losses now for Pochettino and his team.

Football isn’t fair

The main thing to take from tonight’s performance is that football isn’t fair, it never is, it never has been, it never will be. After a sloppy start to the game, Tottenham endured Inter Milan pressure for 20 minutes or so, before growing into the tie.

They looked far more confident on the ball, they were sharper, and they finally got the goal to show for all their hard work.

It wasn’t Spurs’ best performance, but it was a huge step up from the games against Watford and Liverpool.

However, somehow Tottenham still managed to throw the game away, despite being by far the better team.

Aurier can in fact defend

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was how competent Serge Aurier’s defensive display was.

Since his arrival from PSG last summer, Aurier has been famed for rash challenges, penalties and red cards.

With Kieran Trippier left resting back in England, Aurier seized his first team chance, putting in a pretty solid display at right back, with only a few minor errors.

It just goes to show that once he calms down and actually thinks about his actions, he can cut the mistakes out of his game… to a degree anyway.

Spurs can’t defend a lead

Once again, Tottenham were in a game winning position, and lost the match 2-1. It happened against Watford. It happened against United in the FA Cup semi-final, and it happened against Inter Milan.

There seems to be some kind of issue when it comes to seeing a game out for Tottenham, whether it’s due to fatigue, sloppiness, or poor managerial changes.

Spurs need to figure out how to get themselves over the finish line if they’re going to challenge for anything this season.

Set pieces again

For the third week in a row, and the third loss in a row, Tottenham have to turn around and look at their defending from set pieces.

Inter Milan were not only able to win the first header from an injury time corner, but as the ball was knocked back into the box, they managed to get their head to the second ball too.

Vecino popped up at the back post, largely unchallenged and able to nod the winner home. From leading comfortably to losing miserably in seven minutes, by Tottenham Hotspur.

There are positives to take

However gutting the defeat is for fans, there are still positives to take from tonight’s performance.

The team gelled far better as a unit this evening, and showed a vast improvement from their recent Premier League calamity.

Both Lamela and Son were back in the starting line ups and put a shift in for their team. Eriksen found more space and picked some killer balls, while Harry Kane’s hold up play was superb.

There were signs of improvement, the Tottenham lads just have to pick themselves up and go again at the weekend.

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