Friday 26 February 2016 06:30, UK
Tottenham booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with an emphatic 3-0 win over Fiorentina at White Hart Lane to seal a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Ryan Mason and Erik Lamela netted the first two goals as Spurs overpowered the visitors, and Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez completed the scoring when he diverted Kieran Trippier's fizzing cross into his own net in the closing stages.
Nick Wright was in the White Hart Lane press box to witness the action for Sky Sports. Here are the main talking points from the game…
Spurs march on
A year on from their elimination by Fiorentina at the same stage of the competition, Spurs showed just how far they have come under Pochettino. Last season, the Italian side triumphed 3-1 on aggregate after a very different Spurs XI was held 1-1 in the first leg at White Hart Lane.
That night, the home side's starting line-up featured Federico Fazio, Paulinho, Andros Townsend and Roberto Soldado, four players who have been cut loose in Pochettino's clear-out operation. On Fiorentina's return to north London, his revamped side produced a typically dynamic, controlled performance in which several summer arrivals caught the eye.
Dele Alli's late withdrawal was greeted with a rousing ovation around White Hart Lane after he capped another dangerous attacking performance with the assist for Mason's opener, while right-back Trippier was assured at both ends despite an early booking. His fellow defenders Kevin Wimmer and Ben Davies were equally untroubled, and the result never looked in doubt.
No Kane, no problem
With Harry Kane sidelined after breaking his nose during Sunday's FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace, Mauricio Pochettino gave Nacer Chadli another opportunity to lead the line after he scored Tottenham's goal from the penalty spot in the first leg.
The absence of their 19-goal talisman needn't have been too much of a concern. Chadli struggled to hold the ball up at times in the first half, but his link-up play improved as the game went on and Lamela's goal came after Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu could only parry the Belgian's right-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Lamela's goal, meanwhile, continued his prolific form in the Europa League. It was his sixth in the competition so far - a total only bettered by Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz. Kane is expected to return in Sunday's Premier League clash with Swansea and Heung-min Son will be fresh having been an unused substitute. They may not have a natural replacement for Kane, but Spurs are not without solutions.
Mason impresses in Dembele's absence
Kane was not the only Spurs player injured against Crystal Palace, with Mousa Dembele suffering a groin injury that is set to keep him out for a period of weeks. It's a considerable blow given the Belgian's form this season, but Pochettino could take plenty of heart with how Mason performed in his absence.
The Enfield-born midfielder has had to settle for a bit-part role this season having been a regular in Pochettino's first year in charge, but he provided a timely reminder of what he can offer here. His right-footed finish was well-taken, he worked hard defensively and his pass completion rate of 91.5 per cent was the highest on the pitch. Spurs will need more of the same in the weeks ahead.
Youngsters get their chance
Mason was not the only north London lad to feature, with Pochettino throwing on 18-year-old Joshua Onomah and 20-year-old Harry Winks in the closing stages. For the highly-rated Onomah it was a 15th appearance of the season, while Winks was appearing for only the second time after a cameo against Qarabag in November.
The duo were involved in some neat interplay on the left-hand side and Onomah released Davies to set up a spectacular Mason volley in the dying minutes. Pochettino has enjoyed plenty of success with blooding young players at White Hart Lane. Onomah and Winks will be hoping for more involvement before the campaign is out.
Cost of progression?
Tottenham's progression comes at the cost of a hectic fixture schedule, with their last-16 clashes set to take place either side of next month's Premier League trip to Aston Villa. Pochettino, though, insists he won't be prioritising Spurs' title challenge over the Europa League.
"Now we have two competitions, the Europa League and the Premier League," he said. "It's true that maybe for the supporters the Premier League is more important but we need to show we respect both competitions. I think we have enough quality and a big enough squad that we can do both, so why prioritise one of them?"
