Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino believes it is only a matter of time before his team lift silverware despite a heart-breaking FA Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

The 4-2 loss at Wembley this afternoon meant Spurs have now lost their last seven FA Cup semi-final appearances, with 1991 the last time the club progressed past the last four of the competition.

However, speaking after the tie, Spurs manager Pochettino insisted his side is now better placed to challenge for honours than when he took charge in 2014.

He said: “It is my first semi-final, I cannot change the past- the past is the past. We have to build today, in the present, to have a better future.

“I am sure that today if you are a Tottenham supporter you feel very disappointed, you always want to win.

“I feel very proud because the players are making a fantastic effort, we are building what I believe it an exciting team.

“It is only a matter of time until we fight and win at that level against Chelsea, against the big sides in England in that moment.”

Chelsea put in an excellent counter-attacking display to knock Tottenham out of the FA Cup in a thrilling semi-final.

Willian’s brace for the Premier League leaders in the first half was followed by strikes from Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic after the break, but Harry Kane and Dele Alli had twice clawed Spurs back into the game.

Pochettino hailed the progress his side has made to close the gap to sides like Chelsea, who Tottenham will hope to now chase down in the final weeks of the Premier League title race.

He added: “This is a big thing for us, two years ago it was difficult to think we could arrive at this level, to play finals or semi-finals or fight for the Premier League and now that is a reality.

“It is important to be clever with how we develop the team over the next few years.

“But now for a second season the team is fighting, now it will only be time, if it not this season we win the FA Cup, we will try again next season.”