LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Tottenham have come crashing back to earth "after a few weeks in the sky" with Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
Spurs looked on course for a place in the quarterfinals after goals from Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli gave them a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time but they collapsed in the second-half, losing after Andrew Ayew's quick-fire double and a Angelo Ogbonna's headed winner.
Pochettino said his players allowed West Ham back into the back with a lack of aggression after the break and he took responsibility for the defeat, that followed the encouraging draw at Real Madrid and Sunday's 4-1 win over Liverpool.