LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has explained that his favourite Harry Kane goal will always be the last-minute winner against Aston Villa in November 2014 because it saved him from the sack.
Kane reached 100 career goals with a double at Everton before scoring twice in Wednesday's win over Borussia Dortmund but, for Pochettino, all the striker's stunning finishes are topped by a deflected free kick at Villa Park in his 17th game in charge.
Before the match, Pochettino had won just three of his first nine league games, losing to Liverpool, West Brom, Manchester City and Newcastle, and he was already feeling the pressure from trigger-happy chairman Daniel Levy.
Kane came off the bench with Spurs 1-0 down and won it with the last kick after Nacer Chadli had equalised on 84 minutes and, in the week that Frank de Boer was sacked by Crystal Palace after just four matches in charge, Pochettino explained what that goal meant.
"I can find many other goals that were fantastic but, for me, goals are related to emotion, to the period you are living in," Pochettino said. "For me, that goal was an amazing goal because it meant for us, for everyone, the possibility to stay here today.
"It's true, the team were 14th or 13th Messi, or players like Harry Kane, who is 23.
"Today I showed the team the first goal that he scored at 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund, how he fought with two defensive players and then how he scored. I think because only he is so fit he can do this.
"He is so hungry to score and help the team. That is the most important thing today. It is our responsibility to translate and inspire them to not lose their hunger. It is true they are involved now in a big business but first of all the biggest issue is to be focused in football and try to do better every day.
"He's so young still, he's very mature but it is a very good example to use for everyone," Pochettino added. "I think he's one of the strongest mentally of the players because he's Harry Kane and he wants to increase everything and improve every day. He's so humble to help us and for everyone.
"It is key to be humble. OK, everyone has their arrogance and their egos in a small percentage as that is important to survive, but when their ego is big it is not a good balance and you start to suffer."
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