"If we play like Messi, we can make it to the final."

Leo Messi was the absolute protagonist of the first leg of the semifinals of Champions, as even the teams that he didn't play against are praising him. His great performance, free kick goal included, did not go unnoticed by a Pochettino who gave made him an example of what his players should do in the second leg against with Ajax.

"We have to play like Messi," he replied first, after trying to find an explanation for the player's performance: "What can I say in addition to what is being said? He's one of the gods of football, it's incredible his desire and ability to fight with the ball in his feet and without the ball in his feet.

Pochettino was "grateful to have the chance to see him". "It is an extraordinary example, he must be my example to follow. Not because of what he does with the ball, but when he doesn't have the ball. It's incredible his character, how he presses, how he works for the team. We're talking about Messi, who has already won everything," argued the Spurs managed.

The Argentine coach repeated that Messi is "an extraordinary example. That's why, for Pochettino, it was "as painful to start the match as we started the semi-final against Ajax". Afterwards, the press reformulated their question about the Barcelona player and how Tottenham's players should look like him.

"If we play the way he does, we're going to have options, of course. But not as he does with the ball, but without the ball. If we play like him without the ball, with the decision he showed, we will have options to reach the final. If not, no. Ajax weren't better than us, but the moment they showed more determination, they did it better," he said.