Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has hailed his side after they managed to record a 1-1 draw against defending European Champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday in a Champions League group stage clash.

"This was the greatest challenge to compete and we've done it," said Pochettino. "It is something we were missing; this feeling to compete at the highest level.

"We are a team under construction but we have reinforced our ideas. The result is less important. The fact we competed makes me most happy."

For Spurs, the result was creditable given that they had to make do without the services of several key players including the likes of Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele.

Pochettino added: "Last year, in six Champions League games, we got seven points and now we have seven in three games against Borussia Dortmund, Apoel and Real Madrid,

"It's important to work and find different options and surprise our opponents. From now on we can include different nuances in our play.

"We are flexible, we have progressed and we are growing. We are building a stadium and the team is under construction too.

"We are young team and need this type of performance to believe. We must be confident in the path we are following. The club has great potential."