Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino hailed the performance of midfielder Harry Winks after the youngster scored on his full Premier League debut.
The 20-year-old scored his side’s first goal in a thrilling 3-2 win against West Ham at White Hart Lane this evening (Saturday November 19).
Pochettino and his players mobbed the academy product after he got himself on the scoresheet and the Tottenham manager admitted it was an “emotional moment” for him.
He said: “It was a very emotional moment, the first time he is in the in the starting eleven, he is Tottenham pro- he has come from the academy.
“He scored and he played fantastic on his first start in the Premier League with us. He showed big character and played well, he was always forwards.
“He played well and when he scored the goal I was very emotional and in the changing room afterwards as well. You can see how he feels about Tottenham.”
Pochettino also praised Spurs’ academy, which has produced the likes of Winks and striker Harry Kane in recent years, saying it was a “special” to see a youth player graduate to the first team.
Kane scored a late double to sink West Ham, his seventeenth and eighteenth goals in just 20 appearances in London derbies.
Pochettino added: “It is fantastic for the people who work with the academy and it is very important to recognise all the people who work very hard with the academy.
“It is very important to recognise their value because when maybe you see one player in front of the cameras who has come from the academy but all of the work behind it is amazing.
“I have to thank all of the coaches, the people, the staff who work in the academy because this is always a very special moment for us.”
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