Mauricio Pochettino has opened up about the motivation behind Tottenham Hotspur's memorable UEFA Champions League quarter-final victory over Manchester City in 2019, revealing that a remark from Pep Guardiola played a significant role in firing up his squad.

Guardiola had publicly referred to Tottenham as "Harry Kane's team" in the buildup to the tie — a characterisation that, according to Pochettino, did not go down well in the Spurs dressing room. Kane was absent through injury for the second leg, making what followed all the more meaningful for everyone involved.

"Guardiola had described Tottenham as 'Harry Kane's team', which didn't sit well with us. Eliminating City from the Champions League without Harry was so satisfying," Pochettino said.

Away goals send Spurs through

The two-legged tie produced a gripping spectacle. Tottenham ultimately progressed on away goals following a thrilling second leg, booking their place in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition.

The victory was remarkable not only for the manner in which it was achieved, but because Spurs did it without their talismanic striker. Kane's absence had led many observers to write off Pochettino's side, making the triumph a powerful statement about the collective strength of the squad.

For Pochettino, the result was vindication that Tottenham were far more than a one-man team. The players responded to Guardiola's framing of them with a performance that demonstrated genuine depth, resilience, and belief across the entire group.

The 2019 run to the UEFA Champions League final remains one of the most celebrated chapters in Tottenham Hotspur's modern history, and Pochettino's latest recollections add fresh texture to an already extraordinary story.