Argentine winger Erik Lamela has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are improving "bit by bit" as they adapt to the methods of new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
A Christian Eriksen goal saw Spurs beat Southampton 1-0 last weekend to end a run of four winless Premier League games and climb to sixth in the table.
Lamela feels that the timing of the result heading into the international break was "really important" and expects the Londoners to be full of confidence when they return to domestic action to try to continue their steady progress.
"It was really important to get the three points on Sunday, especially for the players because the result gives us confidence going into the international break," he told the club's official website.
"I think the main thing against Southampton was to get the win. Sometimes, of course, you can't play the prettiest football, you have to grind out the result – dig in like we did against Arsenal – and you have to adapt yourself to get the points. You can't play offensive football every single game.
"We needed the win on Sunday to go up the rankings in the Premier League and I think, bit by bit, we're getting there. We just need to keep on going, for the fans, for the players and for the club."
Lamela, who joined Spurs from Roma for a club-record £30m fee in 2013, made only three Premier League starts last season but has featured in every one of their top-flight games so far this term.
Joe Fish
