Mauricio Pochettino takes blame for Tottenham's EFL Cup exit after 'sky high' Real Madrid and Liverpool results

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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_25 October 2017

Mauricio Pochettino has shouldered the blame for Tottenham’s shock defeat to West Ham in the EFL Cup.

Spurs were 2-0 up at half-time at Wembley Stadium, only for a superb second-half display from the Hammers - a brace from Andre Ayew before a Angelo Ogbonna header - gave Slaven Bilic a surprise win.

Having performed so well against both Real Madrid and Liverpool since last Tuesday, many expected Pochettino’s side to make light work of the struggling east Londoners.

However, the Argentine - who made seven changes on Wednesday night - admits that after being sky high with their previous displays, sides can often crash back down to earth when they’re forced to rotate their side.

“I am not worried [about a lack of momentum]," Pochettino told reporters. "I am disappointed, very disappointed like the players too.”

“In football sometimes, after a few weeks that we were up high in the sky because our performance against Real Madrid or Liverpool were fantastic, I understand sometimes – today – it is not easy to play this type of competition when you rotate and you rest some players.

“Sometimes it is so difficult you can see, it is difficult to keep the momentum and try to perform in the same way and that is, of course, my responsibility always.

“Of course I am so disappointed but we need to rotate, we need to use all the players we need to provide them the possibility to play and always, of course, it is my decision and my responsibility.”

Spurs travel to Old Trafford to face Jose Mourinho's Manchester United next as they look to better another Premier League title rival.

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