Tottenham have to accept both the good and the bad times, insists Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino has told Tottenham to accept both the good and the bad times in the wake of his side's chastening 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
An under strength-Spurs side struggled to impose themselves against the Bundesliga outfit at the Westfalenstadion, despite making a bright start to the game.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed the hosts in front on the half-hour mark before Marco Reus added a second-half brace to put Thomas Tuchel's side firmly in control of the tie.
Tottenham's Europa League campaign has been left hanging by a thread ahead of next week's return leg but Pochettino is adamant the north Londoners cannot feel too downbeat given the success they have experienced this season.
"I am not worried, I know the circumstances," the Argentine coach insisted.
"We need to accept some periods during 10 months that we will have good and bad times. We have always had things good.
"It has only been in the last few games not so much. The players are very sad but we have to take the positives," he added.
One such positive was a chance for many of Tottenham's players to experience an away game in a daunting atmosphere against an elite European side.
Dortmund may be plying their trade in Europe's secondary competition this season but they boast an enviable level of Champions League experience, having finished as runners-up as recently as 2013.
Although Pochettino conceded the result was a disappointment he was pleased to have given his side a chance to test themselves at the highest level.
"It was good for us to feel what a game in the Champions League feels like.
"It was disappointing because the result was bad but to build a group for the next few years to compete at the level of Borussia Dortmund is very difficult.
"We were disappointed but it was a very good test for us to compare the level," he added.
In Pictures: Dortmund vs Tottenham
In Pictures: Dortmund vs Tottenham
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1/11 Magnificent
Dortmund, and their fans, put on a spectacular display.
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2/11 Frustrated
Harry Kane reacts after the final whistle blows.
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3/11 Journey's end?
The Tottenham players applaud the travelling fans after suffering a heavy defeat in Dortmund.
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4/11 Brutal
Marco Reus thunders home his first goal on the game.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
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5/11 On the cards
Aubameyang wheels away after putting his side ahead.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
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6/11 Clinical
Aubameyang heads Dortmund in front.
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7/11 Close
Aubameyang lets rip.
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8/11 Focussed
Tom Carroll tries to win possession from Poland international Piszczek.
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9/11 Lost
Nacer Chadli failed to deliver in Dortmund.
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10/11 Fierce
Ben Davies slides in on Mkhitaryan.
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11/11 Pressure is on
Tottenham's hopes of progressing are all but over after their defeat in Germany.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images