Mauricio Pochettino: 'Stoke City tougher opponents than Chelsea'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has declared that Stoke City proved tougher opponents than Chelsea after watching his side grind out a 2-1 win at the bet365 Stadium.

Spurs headed into the match fresh off the back of a 3-1 win away to the Blues, and their coach was adamant that the relegation-scrapping Potters proved trickier opposition.

"It was so tough," he told Sky Sports News after the game.

"I told you in my press conference yesterday that it should be a more difficult game than against Chelsea because to match the hunger and motivation of Stoke and play in a difficult atmosphere is always tough.

"That's what happened during the game. It was a tougher game, but I think we deserved the victory.

"We were better, but we suffered a lot. We fought a lot to get the three points."

The win at Stoke helped Spurs consolidate their position in the Champions League places, moving them level on points with third-placed Liverpool, while Stoke stay second from bottom.