Tottenham’s players lacked the quality and mentality required to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League, says boss Mauricio Pochettino.
A 2-1 defeat at Monaco sealed their exit from the competition as they paid the price for their woeful home form.
Consecutive defeats at their temporary Wembley home had left Spurs with no margin for error and they duly came up short against a classy Monaco side.
“We need to improve our mentality and be ready every game,” Pochettino said.
“From the beginning of the season, I said our challenge was not physical, it was tactical – to manage your mind and to play on Saturday and then Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Pochettino added he may need to add “more quality” to his squad.
“Our objective is to be competitive in the Premier League and Champions League but we need to show more,” he said. “Maybe after today, we see we struggle a bit.”
Tottenham were outclassed by Monaco at Stade Louis II, and only an inspired performance by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris prevented a bigger margin of defeat.
Djibril Sidibe’s header early in the second half sparked a stunning sequence of three goals in just five minutes, with Harry Kane levelling from the penalty spot only for Monaco to score the winner just 39 seconds later through Thomas Lemar.
It was Spurs’ third defeat in five Group E games, following reverses at Wembley against Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen, who have both now reached the last 16.
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