‘Thank you football’ – Mauricio Pochettino’s emotional reaction to astonishing night

At one stage Spurs were 3-0 down on aggregate but Lucas Moura’s second-half hat-trick, sealed with a goal in the 96th minute, took the North London club through to the final in Madrid.

Pochettino was in tears on the pitch after the final whistle and even when he had regained himself for his post-match interview he was still struggling.

"Still difficult to talk." Pochettino said to BT Sport.

“My players are heroes - in the last year I was telling everyone this group are heroes. The second half they were amazing. Thank you football - this type of emotion without football is no possible. Thank you to everyone who has believed in us. To describe this in words is difficult.

"We were talking before the game that when you work and when you feel the love it's not stress its passion of the team. We showed we love the sport and football. Today was amazing. It was a joy to watch this kind of game.

"It's difficult to compete at this level. I am so grateful to be a coach. To be in football and to live this type of football.

"They are all heroes but [Lucas Moura] was a superhero. From the first to last one - the tough moment to live in the five years before."

Pochettino then started tearing up again before saying "I want to remember my family... it's amazing to reward them.

“We need to be ready for the next game on Sunday then prepare for the final.”