Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side fell victim to a shock defeat at Vicarage Road this evening, losing 2-1 to a tough Watford team.
Spurs went ahead early in the second half through a fortunate own goal, but defensive errors at set pieces saw both Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart head their way to victory.
Pochettino described the defeat as a ‘wake-up call’, and said that his side should have won the game if they are to be considered title challengers.
After the highs of Old Trafford, Spurs fans were certainly brought back down to earth with a bump. The performance was toothless and we were frankly bullied by the Hornets long ball style which we simply could not cope with.
Poch told the Daily Mail: “It is so painful to concede two goals like this, it is so painful because the first half looked like a friendly game.
“I am very disappointed, very disappointed because if you want to be a contender…it is so difficult to understand because I thought we controlled the game in the first 45 minutes.
“We conceded two goals that if you want to be a contender you cannot concede.
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“It is the beginning and it is a very good wake-up call for everyone and to listen more because people talk about the perception and not the reality.
“This is good to compare, some people talk about perceptions but the reality was on the pitch.
“The reality is if you want to be a contender today we should win and win easy because everything was ready to win the game. That is very painful, but I am not upset.”
Pochettino believes that his side has huge room for improvement, and need to show ‘more respect’ for their opposing teams in the Premier League.
“We need to show more respect to this competition, we need to compete much, much better.
“It is difficult for me to understand because for four years we were a contender.
“You need to show respect because to compete to win it is not easy, the Premier League is so, so tough.
“That is why after the third game because we beat Manchester United and the circumstances that we beat them, we need to be more cautious.
“And I think that is good today to feel the pain it will help us for the future to be better.
“I was very, very disappointed and my message is you need to go there like a lion and try to score in every single action.”
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